Google Campfire Monday: Launching Google Friend Connect? We have been hearing some rumblings that Google has some big announcement around a product set of API’s for use with Open Social that is supposedly called “Friend Connect”. In theory it might allow Google Open Social developers to have access to profile information and allow those data sets to be used on other 3rd party websites.

This is coming directly after the recent announcement today of Facebook Connect. In all fairness here Google has had this event planned for some time.

I will be attending the Google Campfire on Monday evening for the event. I suspect that what techcrunch is reporting is most likely true that Google will launch a service that will allow some level of accessibility to your profile information for developers to use in creative ways. No word yet as to who potential launch partners might be.

Past history of the Google Campfire events has been to make some big announcement and create some buzz as to what they are brining to market. At the first campfire event they announced Open Social, then the next campfire they announced App Engine… I see a trend with these campfire events.

Google will have to bring some big partners on to gain traction with friend connect. Most people do not have any sort of profile associated with Google with the exception of Orkut. I have said many times that facebook knows far more about me than Google due to my profile information and behavior. Google will have to bring some big swinging partners to the party to make this a huge hit and gain traction rapidly.

The social network race is on in full force and getting kicked into 5th gear. I will be there Monday night with video camera in tow getting the scoop and reporting back.

Technorati Tags: google, google friend connect, friend connect

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