OpenSocial Interest Group

Introduction

What is OpenSocial?

One of the obvious trends in Web 2.0 era is the proliferation of social networks and web sites on which you engage in relationships with other users. OpenSocial helps such social networks and sites share their social data with the web. Applications that use the OpenSocial APIs can be embedded within a social network itself, or access a site's social data from anywhere on the web. By the way, let us introduce you to the OpenSocial logo:


Technically speaking, OpenSocial is a set of common application programming interfaces (APIs) for developing web-based social network applications. In other words, OpenSocial is a set of APIs for developing small web applications that run within social networks.

What can OpenSocial do?

Using OpenSocial you can:

• Build a social app - if you wish to embed your app in social networks around the world


• Create a social app platform - enabling developers to build new social features into your site


• Share and access social data on the web - to let your users take their profiles with them around the web

OpenSocial history

OpenSocial initiative was unveiled on November 1, 2007. Since then, several industry leaders (Google, Yahoo!, MySpace and others) are developing OpenSocial. Many more social networks are using OpenSocial. There are some uses of OpenSocial in enterprise as well.

Applications implementing the OpenSocial APIs (called OpenSocial Applications) will be interoperable with any social network system that supports them (i.e. OpenSocial Container).

Partner companies

Since the inception of OpenSocial, a wide variety of partner companies have joined the OpenSocial initiative. Such companies include:
business-oriented social networking companies like XING, LinkedIn, salesforce.com, Oracle
social networking companies like MySpace, Friendster, Hi5, Ning, Netlog, Hyves, Bebo, Plaxo, Six Apart, imeem, Engage.com
application development companies like Flixster, FotoFlexer, iLike, RockYou, Slide, Theikos, and VirtualTourist

OpenSocial at XING

Objectives of OpenSocial group on XING is to foster communication between XING users interest in OpenSocial - be them internet pundits, entrepreneurs, consultants, application developers, (early) adopters, marketers, and anyone else.

With XING being an OpenSocial container, we would be happy to share some of our experiences and keep you informed about latest development around OpenSocial.


We're looking forward to your participation in this group.