The success of Facebook looks to have ruffled a few feathers at Google and they have recently launch OpenSocial. this is a set of three common APIs, that will allow developers to access core functions and information from a social network:

• Profile Information (user data)
• Friends Information (social graph)
• Activities (things that happen, News Feed type stuff)

The aim to create an easy way for developers to create an application that works across current and future social networks.Unlike Facebook, OpenSocial does not have proprietary code . Instead, developers use normal javascript and html (and can embed Flash elements). The benefit is that developers can create applications using the technology they already know and leverage there creation over multiple social sites.

Open Social launched with partners spanning two two categories hosts and developers. Hosts are the participating social networks, and include Orkut, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Ning, Hi5, Plaxo, Friendster, Viadeo and Oracle. Developers include Flixster, iLike, RockYou and Slide.