The Hindu Business Line : Google unveils tool for social networking

Hyderabad, Nov. 2 Internet search engine Google has released OpenSocial, a set of common APIs or application programme interfaces, which help developers build social applications across the Web.

According to Google, this move would help spread social applications over the Web enabling the large and yet rapidly growing developer community to reach out to over 200 million users.

The Head of Products, Google India, Mr Vinay Goel, told Business Line that the new project is a set of common APIs that application developers can use to create applications that work on any social networks that they choose to participate and on open source.

Explaining the significance of the launch of these APIs, Mr Goel said that this would enable developers cut short overall development time in creating and maintaining code. OpenSocial provides a vast distribution network for developers. Sites such as bebo, engage, friendster, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning, Oracle, orkut, and Xing have committed support.

Tie-up with MySpace

Google and social network MySpace today announced the launch of OpenSocial that seeks to spearhead an initiative to standardise and simplify development of social applications.

MySpace would provide critical user mass and platform guidance.

This collaboration is aimed at simplifying innovation on the Web. Social network site, Facebook, founded by a Harvard student, had earlier published APIs and recently attracted investment from Microsoft Corporation.

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