Internet 20

Networking services provided by a plethora of internet companies generate millions of dollars every month and in a rapidly changing technological world, the fight to gain maximum access to the users is getting more and more intense. And at the heart of the tug-of-war between MySpace and Facebook is this strange craze to court most number of users. The recent joining of hands between MySpace and Google and a few smaller but significant players could spell doom for Microsoft and Facebook in their bid to become the largest and most widely used networking companies. That MySpace is the most used networking site is everyman’s knowledge and the backing of Google would lend it the extra force to crush the challenge of Facebook. Facebook might have just 51 million users in compared to over 200 million of MySpace but it is fast growing into a genuine contender to displacing MySpace from the throne. Launched just over three years ago, it has already gained massive popularity worldwide reflected in the number of daily visitors. It is this long-term prospect that appears apprehensive to MySpace. To remove that worry and to nip the threat in the bud, it has decided to join force with Google, Bebo and a few smaller sites. MySpace in partnership with Google and other internet service providers have opened the gates for outside website developers to create features that would enable more networking options with a myriad of other networking sites. This strategy of openness is a trick that MySpace chief executive Chris DeWolfe believes would attract more web developers and in turn increase MySpace’s popularity.