• On ZDNet: The Windows 7 upgrade survival guide
November 30, 2008 9:21 PM PST

Facebook Connect appears set for expansion

by Michelle Meyers
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 3 comments
Share

Facebook Connect--the service launched last spring that lets members log on to other Web sites using their Facebook profile--appears to be entering a new phase.

Facebook

The New York Times, in a big-picture story Sunday about the social network's plans to extend its reach across the Web, notes that the Facebook Connect service is gearing up for expansion:

In the next few weeks, a number of prominent Web sites will weave this service into their pages, including those of the Discovery Channel and The San Francisco Chronicle, the social news site Digg, the genealogy network Geni, and the online video hub Hulu.

TechCrunch's Michael Arrington chimed in with a related post about Facebook Connect and other such services, noting that Facebook had slated Sunday as the start of "a big press push" for Facebook Connect.

Facebook Connect was launched in May as a way for members to connect their profile data and authentication credentials to external Web sites, much like services offered by rivals MySpace and Google. Members can use their Facebook identities across the Web, including profile photos, names, photos, friends, groups, events, and other information. Facebook handles the authentication process and stresses that user security is a priority.

Some of the other announced Facebook Connect partners include Movable Type, Amiando, CBS.com, CNET (that's us, of course), CitySearch, CollegeHumor, Disney-ABC Television Group, Evite, Flock, Kongregate, Loopt, Plaxo, Radar, Red Bull, Seesmic, Socialthing, StumbleUpon, The Insider, Twitter, Uber, Vimeo, and Xobni.

Michelle Meyers is an associate editor who tracks online happenings in media, entertainment, and politics. E-mail Michelle.
Recent posts from Digital Media
MIT wins DARPA balloon challenge
On2 answers questions on Google merger
Study: Facebook users willingly give out data
Yahoo adds privacy tool, in time for FTC meetings
I want my Vevo: Will video site be next-gen MTV?
Facebook forms safety advisory board
Apple confirms acquisition of music site Lala
Amazon to open bricks-and-mortar stores?
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by WeCanDoBIZ December 1, 2008 6:37 AM PST
I am not sure it allows users to log in to other sites using their Facebook identity, does it? That suggests Facebook have a rival to OpenId. Closer to the truth is that Facebook Connect will enable an iFrame (a web page within a web page) to be incorporated within a web site so that it can be shared easily with your Facebook friends. In essence, you enjoy Facebook features with a window on that website, nothing more. If that website requires you to log in to it to enjoy features, that will still need to be done and you won't automatically connect with all your friends on that site after you have.

We wish for the day when you can though!

Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz
Reply to this comment
by dalellarson December 1, 2008 9:28 AM PST
Pity, but it looks to me like Facebook Connect doesn't really open access to their social graph, it just pulls some external web sites into Facebook.

Imagine a world where I could choose the lens of different social graphs to look at the same content.

This already happens to some degree with status messages because of Twitter's openness. I can view messages on Facebook (many of which are now generated by Twitter) or view them in Twitter (which has a very different model for its social graphs). What's a shame is that Facebook won't let it's status messages back out to Twitter (and other services), so I can't view everything from my Facebook friends there.

Twitter's open graph (itself) is interesting. Twitter's open access to that graph is far more compelling, and may have more to do with Twitter's success to date. <br><br>This is what I meant when I wrote <a href="http://dalelarson.com/2008/11/could-twitter-transcendent-clarity-trump-facebook.html" rel="nofollow">Twitter vs. Facebook: Will Twitter's Transcendent Clarity Trump Facebook</a>
Reply to this comment
by chrissparshott December 4, 2008 12:36 PM PST
Good for usability but a blow to digital user rights. I wonder if Facebook logs the places you visit and is able to see what transactions you perform on the Facebook-Partner site.

Big brother and profile 2.0 might be taking a step closer to reality...

http://www.chrissparshott.com/?p=67

As a user I love it!
Reply to this comment
(3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

The yogurt makers of tech: Gadgets to avoid

Don't buy these one-trick ponies--unless you like gizmos that gather dust.

Google wants to unclog Net's DNS plumbing

The Net giant, ever eager for a faster Internet, debuts its Google Public DNS service. With it, Google could become even more central to the Net.

About Digital Media

The Web is now the place to go for news and entertainment. Look here for the latest on blogs, music, video, virtual worlds, social networking and more.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Digital Media topics

advertisement
Click Here
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right