Facebook - the next platform
Facebook has just released an API that gives company the ability to develop software (called "Widgets") that can be used within Facebook - think of Facebook like an operating system, say Windows, and widgets like software that runs on the OS, say Adobe Photoshop.
Facebook’s timing is perfect. They just released an API that gives third party developers deep access to Facebook functionality and it’s 20 million users. Not only can these third party startups get a widget placed on people’s Facebook profiles, but they can also get viral distribution through users’ news feeds and access core Facebook features. Using the tools that Facebook made available, developers could build new versions of some of Facebook’s own applications, like Facebook Photos. Users can then remove those default applications and add the new ones. Like Microsoft with Windows, Facebook is now competing with application developers on its own platform.
What makes this interesting is that not only is Facebook insanely popular and growing by 100,000 users a day, it provides an almost complete platform for relating to other people. Imagine, for example, a future where you can not only check out what music your friends are listening to, but you can instantly purchase the song from iTunes and give your friend a commission for the recommendation.
