Techcrunch revealed that Google would be launching a set of open APIs that will link multiple social networking sites. The project is expected to go live on Thursday. The APIs would allow developers access the following core functions and information at social networks:
- Profile Information (user data)
- Friends Information (social graph)
- Activities (things that happen, News Feed type stuff)
Sites that would accept apps written using OpenSocial APIs include Okrut, Google's social network, as well as LinkedIn, hi5, iLike, Slide, Ning, Friendster and Plaxo.
The grouping of sites within the OpenSocial framework would effectively be a third social network competing directly with Facebook and MySpace for both users and developers. Read/WriteWeb has more on that competitive social network structure here.
