Facebook Aspires To Be The Next Microsoft

Popular Social Network Envisions All-Purpose Web Site, Seeks Companies to Write Software, Sell Products

(CBS/AP)  Facebook Inc. is encouraging other companies to sell products and create software for use on the popular social networking site, hoping to expand into a universal destination on the Web.

The company's 23-year-old founder and chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, said the move was similar to what Microsoft Corp. did decades ago, when the relatively obscure software maker began encouraging third-party companies to write programs for its personal computer operating system. The strategy made Microsoft phenomenally profitable and helped turn founder Bill Gates — like Zuckerberg, a Harvard University dropout — into world's richest man.

“Until now, social networks have been closed platforms,” Zuckerberg told about 750 programmers attending the company's first developer conference, dubbed f8. “We're going to end that.”

The Palo Alto-based startup has so far recruited about 65 companies to create software for the Facebook Platform, which will be opened up to any company starting Thursday night.

“Facebook will be able to take advantage of applications that make their pages more dynamic, and in a sense, more intelligent,” reports CBS News tech analyst Larry Magid “One application called iLike will analyze music that people’s friends are listening to and to encourage people to buy that music and attend local concerts featuring those artists.”

The best known third-party contributor so far is e-commerce powerhouse Amazon.com Inc., which is allowing Facebook members to publish book reviews on their profile pages. The feature will debut later this week.

Zuckerberg and his Harvard buddy, Dustin Moskovitz, co-founded Facebook in February 2004. The site was supposed to be the virtual version of paper “face books” that Harvard and other colleges distribute to freshmen.

But within a month, the site had caught on at Stanford, Columbia, and Yale. By December 2004, it had nearly 1 million active users.

After the site opened up registration to non-college students last September, it evolved into a major social networking destination to rival MySpace.com, owned by Rupert Murdoch's media conglomerate News Corp.

Facebook now has more than 24 million users who have logged on in the past 30 days. Venture capital firms including Accel Partners have contributed more than $35 million.

Critics say Facebook — which is getting more than 100,000 new registrations per day — cannot maintain its scorching growth rate. Others worry that Zuckerberg and the company's other 20-something technophiles lack the experience and credibility to turn the site into a profitable, publicly traded company.

On Thursday in San Francisco, Zuckerberg — who sported a fleece jacket, baggy jeans and flip-flops — seemed well aware of the challenges ahead. Technical gaffes dogged his nearly hour-long speech, and he broke out in a visible sweat.

“We're the sixth most trafficked site in the U.S. and we can't seem to get our act together,” Zuckerberg joked as he fumbled to synchronize his presentation slides, which were in disarray.

After laughs from the crowd, he regained his composure and added, “We recently passed eBay in traffic and we're working on passing Google, too.”

[tanqu2000]

I have only heard of Facebook.com twice. this article and one time before during the the Virginia tech tragedy when I felt I was watching an infomercial with founder mark zuckerberg doing shameless self promotion for facebook.com trying to direct traffic to his site. I dont remember Bill gates ever trying a move like that.

[lochlan-2009]

This article is one LARGE advertisement. The writer is obviously invested in the company.

You people want a no name that's going to be the next youtube check out immersive media at immersivemedia.com (*** stole my idea). Move quick though, its stock is up almost 300% since January. Although, I don't know what Jonathan Foote thinks about their planned infringement.

[profjulieann]

Facebook should not be underestimated!

[profjulieann]

Part 1 - As both a "seasoned" Marketing college professor and Mother of a two college students (one a recent graduates), I have seen "first hand" the power and the energy "FACEBOOK" creates with its customers. My eldest daughter represents a powerful market transitional customer who is loyal to "FACEBOOK," as a trusted tool that they have "grown-up" with. This daughter has a prestigious job. She immediately shared that information with her college friends via FACEBOOK...These friends shared their joy and their information too. I began to see how they "internally" now use FACEBOOK as an internal networking tool for job opportunites for people they know or on helping those who they have been introduced to, by fellow FACEBOOK friends. This type of loyalty is not available with "My Space." You can accept or reject with graciousness, via FACEBOOK. It is in a way valued and protected by its customers...WOW, this hints of the ease and use and trust Google began with its cutomers...

[profjulieann]

Part II - This semester my students invited me, to join "FACEBOOK." I said "Ok." In March of this year I joined FACEBOOK and since that time I have become not just closer to my daughters (they did initially NOT like my joining, but they did not chose to give me partial visitation to their websites which made me, both happy and relieved...I did not know what I was going to see...)but to my students...I now have 119 friends and 170 posts! I am closer to my domestic students and international stue.dents...especially, the Swedish students who told me we will "always" be in touch via "FACEBOOK." How about that...International loyalty to the site. I also invited two college employees to join, and now we are serving students and becoming closer...

[profjulieann]

Final Part - The gift giving on FACEBOOK (MBA talking)is going to be a CASH COW! When I was at USC, I always loved getting 1.00 flowers from my friends when they were sent to the dorms...With FACEBOOK you can send literally, "A digital rose for 1.00." I have been spending money with pleasure sending my students, friends, and daughters digital gifts...sometimes Private...which creates discussions on their walls...and have received many such as a heart on "Mother's Day" from the daughter most resistant insitially to me joing FACEBOOK. Therefore, as I bought Google stock on the day it came to market (only stock I have EVER purchased)...I would not underestimate...FACEBOOK...I admire the origins of the young founder...a true "entrepreneur with a big heart and a need to fill his needs and do the same for others...Julie Ann Brown, Santa Barbara City College

[michellem99-2009]

Facebook. com is it a chat room,if so no thanks. I don't visit chat rooms. Bill Gates and company does OS platforms,Windows.
I stay away from chat rooms. I will talk thru message baords. Chat rooms they are off limits.