A few days ago Apple launched a social network for music called Ping, which lives inside iTunes. After playing with it briefly, I quite agree with Pete Cashmore, who said in his CNN column, that “The network is currently just another way to follow Lady Gaga.”
I am however wondering, what are Apple’s bigger plans for Ping. Is this the start of them building a product to compete with Facebook and Twitter in the future? Music is a natural start because of the reach of iTunes, but it is worth noting that Apple already has access to iPhone/Mac users photos, videos, locations, as well as, their “social graph” – the phonebook. Basically the components required to launch a social network.
If they go that way, it would be very interesting to see a deeper integration of social elements into the operating system, for example being able to see someone’s status directly inside the phonebook as I am about to call them.
maybe that was true then: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/5277623/Apple-in-talks-to-buy-Twitter-for-700m.html
700m would have been a good price
Windows Phone 7 lets you see someone’s status as you’re about to call them.
I haven’t had a chance to play with Win 7, where does that status come from, is it a Windows 7 “status network” or does it get it from one of the social networks?
It gets if from Facebook, Twitter and Windows Live. I think LinkedIn is either included for TM or will follow soon. Same spread as the social providers for Microsoft Outlook.