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.