MySpace and Google join forces to launch open platform for social application development

MySpace, the world's largest social network, and Google, Inc. are joining forces to launch OpenSocial, a set of common APIs for building social applications across the web.

The partnership spearheads an initiative to standardize and simplify the development of social applications.

"Our partnership with Google allows developers to gain massive distribution without unnecessary specialized development for every platform," said Chris DeWolfe, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of MySpace. "This is about helping the start-up spend more time building a great product rather than rebuilding it for every social network. We're pleased to collaborate with Google to establish a landmark standard for social applications."

As a founding member of OpenSocial, MySpace will provide critical user mass and platform guidance. The OpenSocial standards are designed to evolve through contribution from the open source community and as new features are developed by various partners. Global members of the OpenSocial community include Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING.

"As the most trafficked website in the country and the most popular social network in the world, MySpace is one of the leading forces in the global social Web," said Dr. Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Google. "We're thrilled to grow our strategic relationship with MySpace by joining forces on this important initiative."

"We're all citizens of a larger Web—no network is an island onto itself," said Aber Whitcomb, CTO of MySpace. "We look forward to continuing to develop great technology with Google and all of the OpenSocial participants. It's exciting that social networks are getting social with each other."

The launch of OpenSocial is the first release of technical details for the forthcoming MySpace Platform. Starting now, developers can start writing applications for OpenSocial which the MySpace Platform will support at launch.