Google woos developers to Google+ platform

Company creates a circle and weekly hangout for its Google+ social media platform to encourage creation of more third-party apps.

by Martin LaMonica

February 7, 2012 5:15 AM PST Follow @mlamonica

(Credit: Screen capture by Martin LaMonica/CNET)

Google yesterday created a Google+ page for software developers in an effort to generate more apps for its social-networking platform.

The company will host weekly "office hour hangouts" from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesdays to share information among people in the community, Chris Chabot, Google+ Developer Relations team lead, said in a blog post.

It's a significant step because it signals Google's intention to ratchet up the number of third-party apps for Google+. So far, Google has documented some APIs for developers to use badges in Google+, but there is no integration with Twitter or Facebook.

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