Google Friend Connect is an online service by Google that allows users on the internet to connect with their friends on different websites.

Google Friend Connect is an Open Social application offered by Google that started in May 2008. Google Friend Connect main focus is to simplify the connection between social and non-social websites and standardize the handling and presentation of social applications and content. It uses a blend of open standards, such as OpenID for signin, oAuth to control data, and Open Social for applications.

Google Friend Connect is free but requires approval of the website using it. It requires no knowledge of web programming and enables any website to offer social applications and content from Facebook, Hi5, Orkut, Plaxo, MySpace, Google Talk and other social networks.

At the time the interface is in English and there’s no option to choose other languages. Google didn’t announce any plans to translate it and most words can’t be translated by the site that implements it.

Examples of use are:

1. E-commerce site: Allow users to check whether friends purchased or review the product you are interested in on the product web page.
2. News sites: Allow users insert comments and opinions with their real profile.
3. Organization Sites: Increase marketing and communication within members of the organization.
4. Blogs and Personal Websites: Increase communication within author friends.

Competitors

• Facebook Connect

Links

• Google Friend Connect