The story is getting more and more interesting for developers of internet applications: Myspace is joining Google's OpenSocial API camp according to Silicon Alley and confirmed by TechCrunch. Social networkers Bebo and Six Apart are also joining the alliance as are Oracle and Sales Force. It now looks like a large number of major players in the social networking and Internet arena are teaming up to ensure that Facebook does not end up with a lock-up on the developers of social networking applications. They want to ensure that Facebook doesn't become the Net's operating system in alliance with Microsoft.

Will they succeed? The software industry has had its fair share of similar alliance, but I am trying to hard to remember a really successful one. Is anything going to be different this time?

It is entirely conceivable that they are at least able to get the kind of traction Java had when Sun conceived it. The fact that OpenSocial is an API with a strong promoter, Google, and a lot of heavy weights in the industry, means that at the very least enough fire power has come together to queer the pitch for Facebook. We will have to wait and see if this big coalitoin is to use its fire power wisely and promote choice and open communication for the net community.

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