OpenSocial offers a way for other social networking sites to implement an API -- e.g. play catch-up with Facebook. Yet playing catch-up isn't the way to beat your competition. These other sites need to find a way to use own unique strengths to differentiate themselves from Facebook (and each other).
Really, the biggest thing OpenSocial has going for it is Google's support and the integration between OpenSocial and the Google "platform". Third-party apps that take advantage of GMail would definitely be awesome. But that's because that plays to Google's unique strengths, rather playing catch-up to Facebook's. Doing the latter would be like Facebook trying to do e-mail and search.
Don's right about the "Checkmate" stuff being silly. Open Social isn't going to crush Facebook. It does neutralize the API advantage, however, and lays the groundwork for some other technology to come along and make Facebook irrelevant.
I would agree with Don, but something inside of me feels like playing devil's advocate.
OpenSocial isn't about killing facebook in its tracks, but is a wise move in the long-term. Nobody is arguing if facebook will be around in 1 year, but will it be in 10?
With their platform, facebook defined the scene as "facebook is open for people to make apps, everyone else is closed". With OpenSocial, the frame is "facebook apps use proprietary markup, OpenSocial apps use web standards".
I don't think OpenSocial as it is now is the only thing that's coming out from Google that will affect facebook. If this pattern continues, facebook is in for a PR nightmare.
And let's not underestimate the value of public perception - being seen as "the guys with the proprietary markup" or "the guys with the walled garden" for long enough puts you in the position Microsoft is in now - where people are just waiting for a reason to bash.
I'd actually say the man is more pro-startup than pro-MSFT (he was an early employee at Napster, Groove, and others). I think he honestly believes Facebook has built a great product and a great community which open social won't dislodge. I tend to agree.
I've been reading his blog for a very long time (more than 18 months) and I've NEVER seen him not kowtow the official MS line. Try to find one post in his archives that does not parrot official MS line.
I have been in the software business for 25 years and been on the management teams of 5 startups. I have been at Microsoft less than 3 years and haven't drank the Kool-Aid. However, I don't buy the Microsoft is evil argument either.
I rarely write about Microsoft. In fact I write about Google and lots of startups about 80% of the time. That said, if you want to disagree with my point of view anytime...that is fine. It is a free country.
I think the walls to the garden have to come down at some point
When major services start using a platform that allows their users to interact with users on foreign services as if they were local, that platform will win. From what I understand, Opensocial could be that platform.
