Comments on: Google Friend Connect. Could 2009 Be The Year Google Dominates Social Media?

By: Brian S

Brian S — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:34:09 +0000

With the GFC system, I can see a universal login and the enabling of social features on the whole WWW once you’re “logged in.” This could be an online breakthrough if enough people adopt the technology

Brian S
CEO, FriendConnectDirectory

By: Reuben

Reuben — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:54:39 +0000

It is an interesting comparison between Facebook and GFC, Facebook has obviously been around a lot longer, but I really think that Google is has something else in the background still to come out, these are the initial widgets and more has to follow, and enhancement to the code. Also believe when they embed with adsense and video ads, which will drive revenue sharing between the website and google, then I think you will see a faster deployment and transition to GFC. If people think they can make money from this…

By: Chris Satchwell

Chris Satchwell — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:09:09 +0000

I think once Facebook Connect becomes more easy to install and more Facebook users start using it then it will really get some momentum going, especially in the blogosphere, more-so than Google Friend Connect. If one of them pulls out way ahead of the other (in terms of usage) I think it could be pretty damaging for the loser so both are going to go for it all guns blazing I hope!

By: Ian Hendry

Ian Hendry — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:06:57 +0000

I have to disagree with you Brian. You say Facebook Connect is not user friendly, but the metaphor it uses is familar to all Facebook users from adding applications (now ‘boxes’) and is likely to be pretty common across all external sites too. Sure it is Facebook only, but who doesn’t know Facebook these days. And although you say Google Friend Connect will work with “virtually any social network” it actually doesn’t — as it stands it works on Orkut and Plaxo fully, with MySpace support only to post items back to that site.

At this time, Facebook Connect, although proprietary, leads.

Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ

By: Chris Satchwell

Chris Satchwell — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:04:56 +0000

I did some research while back on Facebook Connect to possibly have it on this website. I used the TechCrunch website to see it fully in action. To be honest I hate how in their comments it has the commentors full name and profile picture. Personally I have no desire to have that on another website (OK I ones I own). I only want Facebook so I can connect with my “real” friends. Also the amount of users using it wasn’t that many, most just used the traditional method of leaving a comment – so the effort didn’t justify the benefits. Once again, we will have to see how it develops and pans out. But it’s not for me at the moment.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:51:03 +0000

Facebook’s system is much more limited and less user friendly than the one released by Google. The most glaring difference between the 2 is the issue of expansiveness and compatibility. In particular, Facebook Connect is only compatible with a Facebook social networking account. If you do not have a Facebook account, then you cannot use Facebook Connect. With Google Friend Connect, however, there are no such limitations and restrictions. Specifically, virtually any social network can work with Google Friend Connect.

Brian

By: Ian Hendry

Ian Hendry — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:24:09 +0000

GFC is good, but Facebook Connect is better. Who wouldn’t want to tap into the 120 million users. Enable them to bring their friends and get your website promoted back on Facebook through News Feeds? In spite of it’s proprietary nature and trickier implementation, if webmasters put in the work the rewards will be much greater than Google Friend Connect.

Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ

By: Chris Satchwell

Chris Satchwell — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:37:31 +0000

@Reuben I agree this is only the start for Google Friend Connect. When we installed it on this website we didn’t like the widget and didn’t feel the benefits were worth the space the widget took up. But this whole “one account” idea is still emerging and has a very long way to go so we shall see

By: Reuben

Reuben — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:33:44 +0000

We have a google friend connect directoy where over 100 sites have registered to date, this is only the start for friend connect and we think this could be huge and bigger than facebook. We have over 150 members signed up in a little under 1 month and that has all been done with google friend connect.

Reuben.