31st October 2007
Search engine Google is set to announce distribution network, OpenSocial on Thursday November 1st. It is an initiative designed so that developers can create social networking applications that will run on a number of websites.
Unlike Facebook applications, OpenSocial will enable developers to only code their applications once, with Google ensuring they are compatible with different websites.
Partners so far include social network destinations such as hi5.com, Friendster and Ning, along with business software specialist websites such as Salesforce.com and Oracle.
"There is no question Google will benefit from this," Google product manager Joe Krausis cited by the Associated Press as saying.
"Google's role is highly intertwined with the web, so anything that makes the web a better experience tends to help Google," he added.
Microsoft recently beat Google in the bid for a share in social network site Facebook. It reportedly paid $240 million (£117 million) for a 1.6 per cent stake.
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