DISQUS

rod/techfold.com · 2 years ago

Wow - I wrote some thoughts a while back on F8/facebook trying to become the next microsoft by building the platform on which the next generation of online software will be built. At the time I wasn't 100% sold that it would actually come to pass, but stories like this are solidifying my opinion in favour of Facebook's ability to execute. When businesses like iLike can be built and be successful on the back of a social network platform without fear of MySpace-esque reprisals (bannings, etc) - you know you've got something.

Aidan Henry · 2 years ago

Sorry Matt, I can't help myself... totally off topic, but... iLike sounds like a web 2.0 company started by Borat.

"What company did you start? iLikeeeeeee..."

Joel · 2 years ago

Bah, it seems like the popular thing here is iLike + Facebook. I'm curious whether iLike or Facebook are going to benefit individually. iLike got a TON of new users off this and greatly increased their exposure...but will this translate into people going to their site and providing them with non-Facebook users (and more importantly...will that even be necessary?). Though the fact that we are even talking about iLike right now is a huge win for them.

And while the iLike app is wildly popular, is it serving facebook by attracting people that weren't already using facebook? It's one thing to provide plugins to your members...but I think facebook will only really benefit if they can increase their share of the market. And I still can't think of any kind of app that anyone could make that will convince someone who uses myspace to switch to facebook or get someone like me who doesn't use any socnet services to start.

The amazing thing here would be if iLike could make money (or generate a lot of loyal users) JUST from the facebook platform. The day a facebook API app generates significant revenue off just the facebook market will be a big landmark in the evolution of internet applications.