Facebook considering joining Google OpenSocial

Facebook is not opposed to the idea of joining Google's OpenSocial web app platform for social networking sites, company board member Jim Breyer told Silicon Alley Insider today. The director hoped to shake off notions that Facebook was omitted from the recent announcements because it opposed the idea of an open platform and wanted to fence users in. Members would invariably want to port information from MySpace and other social networks when they switch to Facebook, and should not be restricted from carrying those web apps over to other services if they want to leave, Breyer said.

The board member refrained from announcing any deals or discussions between Facebook and Google but explained that the former's fbFund grassroots program should help the firm gain an edge over other social networks by funding both simple web apps written by students as well as full-fledged business programs. MySpace currently enjoys the largest number of users but will only introduce a competing app platform by the end of the year.