Re: Why Facebook won’t steal your App

Hashim — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 10:40:10 -0000

Alexey, thanks for your reply to my reply.

A way that Facebook can solve this conflict is by offering an adverting platform for developers, and discontinuing their own ad selling. Until then, developers are stuck, and are only acting as incubators for the Facebook mothership.

Re: Why Facebook won’t steal your App

Alexey Komissarouk — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:09:53 -0000

Hashim,

You bring up a very interesting and worthwhile point. Let me see if I can clarify.

Facebook's current advertising platform feels like it could be more optimized and to an extent this is likely true. If your application has an incredible revenue stream and/or click through ratio for advertising, the Facebook may take note and adapt their advertising offering from lessons learned. As a whole, however, directly copying any applications or features of applications would create unrest with the entrepreneurial developer community. The money from stealing one good app isn't worth the lost revenue from the five hundred applications that developers won't make because of Facebook's newly-gained "evil" mantra.

This will not and should not stop Facebook from innovating and developing new features, but any new features are more likely to be well expected and known beforehand and will very unlikely undercut successful applications. Facebook does not mind being outdone: there are two "alternative-wall" and three "alternate-poke" programs in the top twenty five as we speak. It has even sacrificed what looked to be an otherwise profitable venture with its Gifts to the various Free Gifts applications.

I cannot tell you what exactly the Facebook game-plan is for the next twelve months. I can tell you it will likely involve an even more advanced platform, as well as an e-wallet payment system. If you intend to build an application that requires money exchange, I would advise using PayPal for now and leaving space to integrate whatever Facebook will offer.

Generally speaking, though, you're OK. The makers of the Fortune Cookie and Zombies may at last have a good night's sleep :)

Re: Why Facebook won’t steal your App

Hashim — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:37:58 -0000

"s long as you don’t get in its way, you’re more than welcome to come along for the ride."

And that negates everything you argued just now, because how can you know which way Facebook will move in the future?

What if you create an app that works extremely well with advertising and generates a better ROI than anything Facebook offers? FB will NOT allow you to go on too long without competition from them.

AllFacebook - Latest Comments in Why Facebook won’t steal your App

Re: Why Facebook won’t steal your App

Re: Why Facebook won’t steal your App

Re: Why Facebook won’t steal your App