Comments on: Facebook: The startup sandbox http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:50:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340114 mathewi Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:59:01 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340114 I think you're right, David -- and the news about the API including widgets<br>makes that even easier now, it seems. I think you're right, David — and the news about the API including widgets
makes that even easier now, it seems.

]]> By: David Gratton http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340113 David Gratton Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:56:41 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340113 I'm not sold on the actual long term value of facebook as the sole platform for building one's business. Building facebooks apps is predicated on the assumption that the vast majority of your intended users are members of Facebook. Clearly that is not the case today. However, there presently no other platform with the features or user base that developers can test their social apps. If you can build a successful facebook application (that doesn't rely on enhancing facebooks present communication features - Superwall, etc.) then I think you can certainly extend it outside of facebook. I'm not sold on the actual long term value of facebook as the sole platform for building one's business. Building facebooks apps is predicated on the assumption that the vast majority of your intended users are members of Facebook. Clearly that is not the case today. However, there presently no other platform with the features or user base that developers can test their social apps. If you can build a successful facebook application (that doesn't rely on enhancing facebooks present communication features - Superwall, etc.) then I think you can certainly extend it outside of facebook.

]]> By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340112 mathewi Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:59:02 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340112 That's an excellent point, Pema -- if you are to build something that takes<br>advantage of network effects, then you need to find people wherever they<br>are. Thanks for that. That's an excellent point, Pema — if you are to build something that takes
advantage of network effects, then you need to find people wherever they
are. Thanks for that.

]]> By: Pema Hegan http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340111 Pema Hegan Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:42:47 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340111 Your timing is uncanny Mathew - we launched the GigPark facebook application last night... <a href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6060627117">http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id...</a><br><br>For us, Facebook is one of a few important places GigPark should be available. Since GigPark is all about finding services with the help your friends, we need to be where friends communicate - and Facebook is definitely one of those places.<br><br>You're dead right that Facebook is a great place to test ideas, but I think for services like ours that get better when your friends are involved, offering your service through Facebook is almost essential.<br><br>I believe being platform agnostic is the name of the game. There was a good quote from James Hong of Hot or Not about this in a TechCruch article last year: "I have really stopped thinking of Hot or Not as a destination site and worry about how many people are using our service no matter where they are ... People will go where they will go. The world is evolving." Your timing is uncanny Mathew - we launched the GigPark facebook application last night… http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id...

For us, Facebook is one of a few important places GigPark should be available. Since GigPark is all about finding services with the help your friends, we need to be where friends communicate - and Facebook is definitely one of those places.

You're dead right that Facebook is a great place to test ideas, but I think for services like ours that get better when your friends are involved, offering your service through Facebook is almost essential.

I believe being platform agnostic is the name of the game. There was a good quote from James Hong of Hot or Not about this in a TechCruch article last year: “I have really stopped thinking of Hot or Not as a destination site and worry about how many people are using our service no matter where they are … People will go where they will go. The world is evolving.”

]]> By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340110 mathewi Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:56:01 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/25/facebook-the-startup-sandbox/#comment-340110 That's an excellent point, Daniel. Thanks for the comment. That's an excellent point, Daniel. Thanks for the comment.

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