New Tools hint at new iGoogle Social Network
Google has just recently released a new developing package for its iGoogle gadgets that seem to put into place an unique social networking site. The package allows developers to build and test applications that use the OpenSocial tools Google announced last year. With iGoogle membership in the tens of millions, it seems as though Google has finally produced a worthy competitor to MySpace and Facebook. Google hopes to have dedicated customers to their other services sign up, as well as steal some from the competition through services not availables on their platforms. Google plans for its service to become the centralized hub of internet social networking, allowing users to access other networking site through the Google interface. This in turn puts the heavy lifting on the other sites while Google handles the traffic. Google seems to be in position to claim a major stake in the social networking scene with this move, and more advancements are sure to come.
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2008/04/igoogle-sandbox.html
Keith Meyer
Its crazy how many social newtorking websites there are out now. I’m not too sure if google will be huge competition for facebook and myspace since people tend to stick to what they are use to. The way that no other instant messageing services took off because everyone stuck with AIM, i feel like the same thing could happen to google, but who knows if they make the interface friendly enough, anythings possible.