OpenSocial Foundation?
Huh, just came across Yahoo’s announcement on their blog that they’re forming the OpenSocial Foundation with Google and MySpace. The goal of this brand spankin’ new foundation is to “ensure the neutrality and longevity of OpenSocial as an open, community-governed specification for building social applications across the web.”
I am of mixed minds about this. Well, first, I’m a bit skeptical of OpenSocial, but I’m definitely not ruling it out. I think, whereas before it had a nice chance with Google holding the reins loosely to get this horse going, now it’s got three people holding the reins. Two of whom compete with each other and one of which competes with every site that wants to use OpenSocial. I wonder what the reaction of all the original partners (i.e. LinkedIn, Ning, SixApart, etc…) will be to this. That’s gotta be at least something of a face slap, no? Hey guys, thanks for taking part, now you have even less say in the matter since you we now have three people driving the car instead of 1.
On the other hand, it is a foundation. And people like foundations.
On the third hand how many will like it when Microsoft buys Yahoo and is 1/3 the driving force? People don’t trust Microsoft, for right or wrong.
