Google should be worried. By opening its doors to the world, Facebook is in effect employing 33k of the brightest, more entrepreneurial minds the world has to offer.
These developers will create great applications that function like advertising, only better. These applications will allow businesses to connect with customers like never before.
Furthermore, I predict because all major businesses will be interacting through Facebook, a new form of currency will begin to emerge.
We are only beginning to see the potential of this platform. Developers are just beginning to "learn the ropes" of this new medium on which to build. The next year will be one to remember for our species.
"Maybe Google will follow suit and allow developers to embed their applications in Google too?"
I am sure they are considering something along those lines. The main problem they will face is how to create a viral system of distribution for these applications that can be as effective as the Facebook feeds.
"You don't think you're overselling an API just a little?"
It's about the precedent that Facebook has just set by opening up its doors to the world, allowing outside "add-ons" not even affiliated directly with FB to generate revenue through FB.
"the new Facebook Platform is a dramatic leap forward for the Internet industry." - Marc Andreessen
Of course it is, if you don't realize it, you just aren't creative enough to imagine the applications that will revolutionize the Industry. I'm not necessarily saying that Facebook will be the social network that can appeal to 90% of Internet users, but that is what they are betting on. Eventually everyone who uses the Internet will be interacting in a "social network", why? because its a more efficient way to share information.
I think MZ realized that there are so many people with so many amazing, revolutionary ideas, it would not be possible to try and incorporate all of their brilliant ideas. Instead, he decided to open it up and bet on the fact that these entrepreneurs with revolutionary ideas would figure out ways to monetize these ideas through Facebook.
Like MZ says, Everybody wins. Thats the precedent he is setting and that is why this year, leading up to Nov 2008 will be a year to remember. (remember there was no Youtube or Facebook in 2004)
yeah, like while i admit it's possible, why would businesses necessarily gravitate to a platform which has the image of being for teen and young adolescent dating?
i know they're not free (as in beer), but there have been networks like this around for a while, and they have not become business platforms, even if they are "more serious". i'm thinking of linkedin.com.
i'm not trying to scrap, merely to understand why people think this, rather than believe such notions are matters of early -- and justified -- enthusiasm.
It isn't obvious that the Facebook platform will be the premier platform for companies and developers to connect with customers. Facebook is first to the market with an open and technical robust combination of an API and distribution network but don't bet on it being the last.
I'm sure the "OG's" of the platform wars, Apple and Microsoft, have plans and Google is almost certainly working on something.
There's a reason Google and Microsoft haven't bought facebook, and it's not just because Facebook's price is too high.
These developers will create great applications that function like advertising, only better. These applications will allow businesses to connect with customers like never before.
Furthermore, I predict because all major businesses will be interacting through Facebook, a new form of currency will begin to emerge.
We are only beginning to see the potential of this platform. Developers are just beginning to "learn the ropes" of this new medium on which to build. The next year will be one to remember for our species.