OpenSocial, Facebook Platform, Bebo Platform and a whole new industry?
Well guys…
We have read about browser wars (Netscape vs Microsoft Internet Explorer) in the late 1990s, then Search Engine wars (Google vs Microsoft vs Yahoo! vs Ask vs others) and now the latest buzz is about the internet application platforms.
And its an easy guess that its gonna end up with ‘Platform Wars‘. Facebook Platform is now very popular. OpenSocial launched as a community project, with few initial partners sometime early November 2007. Bebo which has recently launched its own platform will also support OpenSocial soon. Google’s Orkut, MySpace, Hi5, Ning, Plaxo, Xanga, LinkedIn, Flixter, Hyves.nl, etc have joined hands. As a part of the OpenSocial project, I’ve got the latest info that the OpenSocial code will be a stable project in another couple of months. I can easily notice that the mailing list is already filled with questions related to gadget/app development. Earlier this week, we even had an Apache member dropping into the list, to check whats so interesting about the Shindig project thats already thats already being a high traffic mailing list on Apache. (Shindig is a part of OpenSocial efforts). Google also has a ful-time team of engineers working on the Apache Shindig project to fasten up the stable release.
This surely is going to turn into *big business*. There’s already an industry for Facebook Apps. And now that its a Google-hatched community project, it might burst out. A few months back, all I could find on project listing sites were “…need facebook application to….”. And now its filled with OpenSocial app requests. People and businesses are already getting ready to launch their apps as soon as the OpenSocial is stable. Makes sense to be prepared. And all they need is a site that supports OpenSocial in production environment(public release), which none of the sites do yet. Also to mention, OpenSocial is just an extended version of Google Gadgets (thats been opensourced now). Its all the same syntax. So getting a Google Gadget running in an OpenSocial environment ain’t tough. Maybe only a few code changes or none.
So if you are an entrepreneur, watch out! Social Apps industry pays off well, if anything is done the right way. If you are an app developer or planning to develop one, here’s the secret to develop something successful: *Develop something unique. Make something tha people might want to use everyday* The usage of a fun app may be temporary but if its a utility app done well, its a sure success. It will not be very soon until all the applications we use turn-out to be social. Google has already introduced personalised profile pages for users on Youtube and this shows signs that they are really trying to build a network around video buffs.
Before signing off… I’m also tempted to mention that there’s one indian startup too coming up with an integration of OpenSocial. Regret that I can’t give away too many details as I am too involved with it (but will surely keep you informed).
Popularity: 17%
February 27th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Akash….I really doubt the hype that surrounds these “platform applications”. If you take a look at the google gadgets, you will notice that there are innumerable practically useless apps. I mean, it is great feeling to code a widget that can display temperature or can extract bible verses or can create spiders or fishes crawling, swimming near the mouse cursor. Fact remains that programmers tend to fall in “love” with their apps and so go about coding with religious zeal. At the end of the day, people using facebook or orkut simply want to communicate and with these gazillion apps bound to crop up from every where, I really doubt if many of these would ever survive beyond the initial curiosity of the user.
But quietly, unknown to most, a new website is quietly stealing ground with mind blowing practical applications for the user.
This site is still in beta and it is quite powerful in terms of ease of use and limitless flexibility. Introducing http://www.wix.com Just check this baby out! I have invitation for the beta testing. And this will revolutionize the entire web designing community.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Kartik,
Yes I agree, the hype around many apps will not survive after initial curiousity of the user. But the point of the post is about useful apps. I as I have mentioned *utility* apps will succeed in the end. Only apps that make the user want to return everyday will survive as mentioned in the post.
“if you are an app developer or planning to develop one, here’s the secret to develop something successful: *Develop something unique. Make something tha people might want to use everyday* The usage of a fun app may be temporary but if its a utility app done well, its a sure success.”
a quote from the post. try reading it again.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Hey just send me an invite to wix.com
February 27th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Yeah!
Took a quick look at it. I think I got the idea.
Marc Andreessen and Gina Bianchini’s Ning.com have already cornered this part of the market with more intuitive and compelling features. Sites created on Ning are more customisable. They offer both a paid service and an add supported service.
And some extra info: Marc Andreessen was the co-author of the world’s first web-browser Mosaic and also the co-founder of Netscape. Also: Internet Explorer’s code is based on Mosaic(!)
February 27th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I don’t think Wix can compete with Ning in solid form. Maybe they can capture a small part of the market. Ning service is both paid an unpaid. For the unpaid service network creators don’t have control over ads. But when you opt for a paid service you have control over ads. And there’s no limitation on features. They use a gadget based method. U want a feature, add a gadget. And they allow you to setup social networks on your own site(!). They don’t force you to host it on Ning. They give you the code. You can modify the template and do every mod.
So do you still think Wix can come in late and steal the thunder? And there are anyway more competitors in this sector: SNAPP program by Me.com and myWdot.com and I also read read about one site that launched just 2 days back. The name starts with ‘B’, I tried the site but they too seem to be no competition to Ning. When I previewed I site, I got an idea of it: they tried to allow building networks around wikis. And wiki is a feature already on Ning(!).
So thinking of something? Try Ning
And yeah… Ning was also among the launch partners of OpenSocial. Their man Brian McCallister leads the Apache Shindig project. He’s a nice fella.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Akash..regarding Marc Andreessen on mosaic…he must be feeling really bad when he couldn’t capitalize on netscape….especially when Microsoft grounded him to dust….now he is back with another app…..I really hope it will be sweet for him this time…..
Back to the main issue….how to monetize these social apps????
February 28th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Kartik,
What do you mean “he couldn’t capitalize on netscape”???
He sold Netscape for $4.1 Billion to AOL!!!!
Isn’t that enough?
And moreover Netscape has won the war disguised. AOL churned out a new project foundation Mozilla and gave away its source-code. Thats how we today have one of the best web-browsers - Mozilla Firefox and all its derivatives and sister projects like Flock, Sea Monkey, Mozilla browser(the one with the red dragon logo), etc etc
So Netscape is still a part of our life, but this time - in a big way.
He started another company called LoudCloud, which became Opsware when *only* the operations part was acquired by EDS Solutions. Then in a few months ago HP agreed to buyout Opsware for $1.6 billion(!) He was the chair of the company still, when all these were happening. HP’s Data Center Automation division is what is Opsware. Now what? Didn’t he capitalize on his ventures?
February 28th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Monetizing???
Everyone are going the Facebook way. Almost all opensocial developers are planning to allow app developers to insert ads.
And again don’t say that app developers will dirty the site
There’s logic behind this too. Suppose X develops an app that’s the first in town. He’ll try to make money by inserting ads. There’s always a good ol’ Y who’s try to make an app with no ads or very little ads. So people will immediately shift to Y’s app. So whoever offers the user the best wins. And there’s a better way to say in market even after inserting ads - have a better user interface and insert ads meaningfully, not just where ever u want. Brainy UI designers will know where they can place ads, and how not to disturb the user with ads.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:20 am
oh! excuse my ignorance…I should have checked my facts first……I was under the mis belief that Netscape was completely destroyed by microsoft and that the 28$ at IPO went up as high as 84$ that day went completely bust……..
July 1st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
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