While numerous people have speculated how Google is going to launch a social network that will compete with Facebook, based on conversations I’ve had recently with insiders, the most viable platform for Google to bring down Facebook is via the company’s Android operating system. How will they accomplish this massive feat? Here are the details.
Facebook Wants To Be An OS
Before jumping into the Android opportunity, let’s take a brief look at Facebook’s Platform history. When Facebook first launched the Platform back in 2007, Mark Zuckerberg proclaimed the service was going to become the “social operating system”. Even to this day he describes aspects of Facebook as an operating system. In a conversation with Y Combinator participants last night, Mark Zuckerberg described Facebook Platform as a Platform, similar to an operating system.
Paul Kastner, an attendee of the event, paraphrased Mark Zuckerberg’s comments:
He also made the observation that games seem to be the first indicator of a good platform. Games were among the first applications to become popular when personal computers first became available, as well as on the iPhone and on Facebook when they started allowing thrid-party apps.
While many developers on the Facebook Platform would argue that it’s clearly not an operating system, numerous aspects of Facebook have been adopted in new mobile operating systems, including Android and iPhone. As was previously the case with Facebook, application developers on the iPhone (and Android) can send notifications directly to users.
Facebook Could Build A Mobile OS
As mobile rapidly becomes the new battle ground for the titans of technology, Facebook is currently in a vulnerable position. The company is simply an application on all mobile platforms. Yes, many have asked for Facebook to build an iPad device, however an even greater issue is Facebook not having it’s own device!
There is plenty of room for more than two competitors in the mobile space, which is also why Microsoft is preparing for a media blitz with Windows Phone 7. If Facebook doesn’t announce their own full blown mobile operating system, the company will continue to exist at the mercy of the largest technology companies in the world: Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
Google Sets Targets On Facebook
As we’ve covered in the past, Google is ramping up quickly to take on Facebook head on. They’ve acquired numerous companies in a matter of weeks, have promoted these individuals to top executive positions, and are in the process of building out “Google Me”, the supposed Facebook killer. While many have suggested that Gmail could play a central role in the company’s attack on Facebook, there’s a much greater opportunity for Google: Android.
While a web-based service would enable Google to target every user on the internet, there’s one statistic that is hard to ignore: there are more than 1.4 million Android devices sold each week (CNET). That makes Android look like a much more attractive “social platform” than Gmail. If that number was sustained, the entire Android market could soon be on par with Facebook. It would most definitely be an incredible feat.
As interfaces become more simplified, it’s only natural that much of an individual’s social networking activity will take place on their mobile devices, and other areas where social has an opportunity for deeper integration. Facebook already has over 150 million active users accessing their site via mobile devices, however they’ll need to boost their numbers if they are going to compete with Google as they enter the market, and even potentially Apple.
With mobile devices becoming the primary computing platform for consumers, the race is on to build the most efficient mobile operating systems that incorporates the social layer throughout. While Facebook could potentially develop such a solution, the company could suddenly become an underdog overnight as their lack of mobile operating system places them at a significant disadvantage over others.
If Facebook is truly looking to make the login process more efficient via mobile devices, the Platmobile team could be preparing something much more significant than an easier login button. Who knows, perhaps Facebook is looking to launch their new mobile operating system, titled “Face“. Do you think the company will launch their own mobile operating system? Facebook did steal the Google Android product manager. Facebook however appears to be satisfied operating at the discretion of all the other Platform owners.
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It'll go the way of Buzz and Wave…
Comment by Gus — August 27, 2010 @ 12:07 pm
Hi I would like being able to use my cell phone for
more. Getting access to using apps farmville &
more. Thanks & have a good day!
Comment by Doreen Blacknick — August 27, 2010 @ 12:40 pm
I want to stay with Facebook ALL THE WAY I just trust it better. Facebook has more experience with mobile. It has been around longer so no need to later discover some catch. I, as you know need to use my mobil cell phone right now until I can get my Laptop repaired and I have not had any problems with Facebook mobile itself only with an occational intruder who tries to block me from doing anything on my phone including logging onto Facebook but that has nothing at all to do with facebook mobile. We have great exposure on my page due to its sudden popularity and interest in combining our Dreams & Goals with work and/or lifestyle with sharing very helpful and valid information about proven scientific Universal Laws such as the Law of Attraction and much more plus our priceless sharing of wisdom quotes all revolving around these Laws. Also spirituality is now merging with science and we are at the beginning of some very exciting times with a "New Awakening" in Consciousness which appears to be happening globally with most people especially sensitive and Light Worker inclined people. We have labelled this change by calling it "The Paradigm Shift" apparently the highly spiritual Mayan Indians had foreseen this incredible change of the actual Earth energetics changing no later than the year 2012. This is a date nearing at a very quick rate as we all witness the swift passage of time and now already in this year and month, 2010, August, we are already feeling this evident shift in Energy. This is just the beginning as it infiltrated with a feeling of more energy and greater clearity and understanding with this awakening feeling enabliling us to really see things as they are and enabling us to share and express so much more easily and communicate much more effectively and clearly as we realize the power of our words and thoughts which natually takes us to what really this is partly about with The Law of Attraction. Everything mentioned now can and has been backed up with scientific evidence pointing to a very real new stream of consciousness. I can access the wonderful YouTube and just as many links on my mobile phone as I could on my PC. Yes, I do encourage having this Facebook alternative with my mobile cell phone and I am very greatful for it and for Facebool. I would not replace Facebook with the new Google feature or any other for that matter. Facebook was a genius invention and all my thanks to the young man who invented it and continually finds new was of improving it as well. All commented in my Gratitude for the "Shift" and for facebook mobile for if I did not have this option my friendship group would not have the popularity that it has today. Love & Gratitude, Tara
Comment by Tara E Girod — August 28, 2010 @ 2:33 am
Don't think G will start a new social network. Wouldn't make sense. How many already exist? 100? 200? Google wouldn't have a chance – and they already have Orkut… so my guess: Just some "typical ugly Google UI" and they will fetch the basic streams from other networks (FB, MySpace, Bebo, Hi5, ….).
Comment by Doll — August 28, 2010 @ 9:17 am
I don't know about the mercy of technology companies, seeing as Microsoft already owns some of Facebook.
However, Wave is dead and a FB app is also available for some OSs, although it's pretty limited unfortunately.
Comment by Lorne Marr — August 29, 2010 @ 2:47 am
Nick, I always look forward to your articles, but PLEASE get a good editor. Many times I am distracted by all the errors in your article.
Comment by V. Booker — August 30, 2010 @ 11:39 am
why would facebook even build a mobile os ?
to not disappear ?
facebook platform is a layer; it's not even a platform !
to build on iOS devices, you need objective-C
to build on Android, java… and so on.
now for the facebook platform, it's mainly flash,html…
i mean the farmville app you will play on your mobile device, say iPhone, is the same as the one on facebook because it have that layer (facebook integration). in the first place, the farmville app is build with objective-c, you can perfectly play it with out having a facebook account…
Comment by jhenedy — September 1, 2010 @ 2:04 pm
[...] claim and it’s something that we’ve also been speculating about for months now. As I wrote only a few weeks ago, Facebook is becoming increasingly at risk of competing social platforms from Google and Apple, [...]
Pingback by Facebook Preparing To Unleash A Mobile OS? — September 19, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
It seems that everyday, Facebook is becoming more and more like an operating system. In fact it's probably more than that already. Huge amounts of time are spent by users viewing photos, playing games, chatting with contacts. It also clearly indicates that we are probably more ready for a world of cloud based computing than we think.
Comment by Simon — March 8, 2011 @ 11:25 am
[...] been writing about this for a long time now. Last year, I argued that the Android platform could be used to damage Facebook. So far though, Android has only helped Facebook, providing more than 40 million monthly active [...]
Pingback by Could Google And Apple Take Identity From Facebook? — June 2, 2011 @ 3:22 pm