MySpace's OpenSocial
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Google snatches the Big Kahuna for its set of social-networking APIs. |
My Google Watch colleague Clint Boulton has a good take on MySpace's decision to endorse OpenSocial.
MySpace's endorsement of Google's social-networking APIs is pretty big, pretty fast. As I explained yesterday, OpenSocial needs support of a big social network to gain any traction. MySpace is it.
Clint aptly explained: "Google needs MySpace to make OpenSocial work and to vault past the more than 7,000 applications already built on Facebook. MySpace needs Google and OpenSocial to keep from getting overtaken by Facebook, which is growing at a torrid pace."
JupiterResearch media analyst David Card aptly identified what must happen for the OpenSource consortia to succeed: "Regular readers know my Rule of Partnership. For a deal to be important, two of the following three must occur: Money must change hands; there must be exclusivity; product must ship. 'Open' 'consortia' aren't deals. That's one of the reasons they fail. The key here would be 'product must ship.'"
I'm more focused on the "money must change hands" part. The one thing all successful platforms share is the ability for third parties to make lots of money. Windows running on the PC platform is the definitive example. Google makes the Web platform work by enabling so many third parties to make money, mainly through advertising and contextual search. OpenSocial can be no exception. Developing against Facebook—or Microsoft, for that matter—is no reason to support OpenSocial. There must be clear, identifiable revenue opportunities for the third parties supporting the APIs.
The importance of MySpace's endorsement is more than about number of subscribers; it's about Aussie-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch. MySpace is much more commerce directed following his acquisition of the social networking service. Murdoch will find a way to make MySpace pay off, and OpenSocial is one promising means—but by no means the only one.
By increasing connections to other social services, MySpace increases the number of points of revenue generation. Fox has lots of content and lots of cross-promotional ties to extend outward and through which to generate more revenue. No one should be surprised if MySpace's long-term objectives—other than perhaps making money—are quite different from other members of the OpenSocial consortia.
Related Posts:
- MySpace Joins the OpenSocial Frat Party, Google Watch, Nov. 1, 2007
- Is OpenSocial the Microsoft Anti-social?, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 31, 2007
- What Microsoft Gets from Facebook, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 24, 2007
- Microsoft Punches Out Google at the Facebook Altar, Google Watch, Oct. 24, 2007
- Microsoft's Facebook in the Mirror, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 25, 2007
- Microsoft's Face in the Book, Microsoft Watch, July 16, 2007
- Why Google Succeeds, Part 2, Microsoft Watch, June 15, 2007
- Why Google Succeeds, Part 1, Microsoft Watch, June 15, 2007
- One Redmond Way | Razorfish, Microsoft Watch, May 21, 2007
- Why Microsoft Wrote aQuantive a Big Check, Microsoft Watch, May 18, 2007
- Top 10 List: Why Microsoft and Yahoo Couldn't Marry, Microsoft Watch, May 5, 2007
- Will Microsoft Yell Yahoo?, Microsoft Watch, May 4, 2007
- DoubleClick and Microsoft's Thrift Culture, Microsoft Watch, April 16, 2007
- Will Microsoft See Double(Click)?, Microsoft Watch, March 28, 2007
Comments (6)
The Best Free Desktop Linux
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT3135712364.html
Quotes from the link:
"It takes 10 to 15 minutes to do a complete install of SimplyMEPIS onto a hard disk. The resulting install is complete, attractive, and includes a complete selection of applications."
"In general, I find installing Linux easier than installing Windows. The reason is that most Linux distributions install the user software along with the OS."
"SimplyMEPIS is a live CD. This means that a user can boot and run off the CD without installing the OS on their hard disk" (this means one can check to see if all the hardware works 100% for sure before installing)
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And of course u can find the free download links for the free iso at distrowatch.com
Posted by chips | November 1, 2007 11:03 PM
A Vista vs. Linux Matchup
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT9727687530.html
Another very nice article written by the very talented Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols.
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Did I forget to mention that most community Linux distros are FREE, unlike Vi$ta which can set you back up to $399 for the bloat and controlware from Micro$oft. Also, unlike M$ products, Linux is virtually virus free. Set yourself and your company FREE.
Posted by chips | November 1, 2007 11:08 PM
Everex launches $198 Ubuntu Linux gPC at Wal-Mart
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS7114714037.html
Quote: " Everex, a longtime personal computer vendor, has unveiled its latest PC featuring Ubuntu Linux-based open-source productivity software and Google-based Web 2.0 applications, for a mere $198"
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So the hidden cost of M$ Window$ is perhaps more than we thought, not to mention all the horror stories abou the security problems (viri) in addition.
Posted by chips | November 1, 2007 11:14 PM
Here's a thread discussing how a VCSY might secure an injunction against Microsoft for infringing against patent 6826744 and damaging VCSY's business.
http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_M/threadview?m=tm&bn=12004&tid=1311668&mid=1311668&tof=6&frt=1
We'll see what kinds of arguments the other side can present to make these conditions go away.
Posted by I-Man | November 2, 2007 4:57 AM
"Checkmate? MySpace, Bebo and SixApart To Join Google OpenSocial (confirmed)"
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/01/confirmed-myspace-to-join-google-opensocial/
Quote:"On the call, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said “we’ve been working with MySpace for more than a year in secret on this” (likely corresponding to their advertising deal announced a year ago)".
MySpace says their new platform efforts will be entirely focused on OpenSocial.
The press release names Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING as current OpenSocial partners.
"We’re seeing a Flixster application on MySpace now through the OpenSocial APIs. Flixster says it took them less than a day to create this. I’ll add screen shots below".
Here’s the big question - Will Facebook now be forced to join OpenSocial? Google says they are talking to “everyone.” This is a major strategic decision for Facebook, and they may have little choice but to join this coalition.
Posted by Marco | November 2, 2007 8:52 AM
An injunction coming against Microsoft(on all their .Net Framework)imo!
The law says there are four criteria to meet and then you receive an injunction against your adversary:
1. * The plaintiff has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits of the case (i.e., that the patent in issue is valid and infringed).
2. * The plaintiff will be irreparably harmed if the injunction is not issued.
3. * The threatened harm to the plaintiff outweighs the harm the injunction may inflict on the defendant.
4. * The injunction will serve the public interest.
Let's look at the VCSY v MSFT situation at each of these points:
>>1. * The plaintiff has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits of the case (i.e., that the patent in issue is valid and infringed).>2. * The plaintiff will be irreparably harmed if the injunction is not issued.>3. * The threatened harm to the plaintiff outweighs the harm the injunction may inflict on the defendant.>4. * The injunction will serve the public interest.<<
Industry reviews of Microsoft SaaS claim MSFT SaaS performance is poor. VCSY technology will provide healthy innovation and increased competition to the software industry, the telco industry, business productivity, efficiency, economy and user richness.
Well, reader, it looks to me that, using nothing more than public information available over the internet, VCSy satisfies all four criteria handily. Obviously payed posters are going to want the reader to believe VCSy has no chance against MSFT in court, but, even the casual reader can see there are problems with Microsoft and the current VCSY path in court appears quite well situated.
And, if that's what we can come up in the public demonstrating an injunction is probable in this VCSY v MSFT case, imagine what VCSY shadows like IBM can tell the court about VCSY technology and market values.
Now, let's see our resident experts explain how these can not be.
Posted by I-Man | November 2, 2007 9:48 AM