Friendster Deploys Developer Program and Launches Directory of Over 180 Applications

    SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendster, Inc.
 (http://www.friendster.com) today launched a directory of over 180
 applications, enabling its more than 56 million global users to easily
 discover, add and use applications on and off the Friendster.com website.
 These applications, called "widgets" throughout the industry, have been
 integrated into the Friendster user experience by developers leveraging
 Friendster's Developer Program, released as a pilot program on October 25,
 2007 and now fully deployed at http://www.friendster.com/developer.
 
     Friendster, the #1 social network in Asia and the third largest branded
 social network in the world, is among the first major global social
 networks to launch a developer platform and rich directory of applications
 for its users within a production environment. Others have announced plans
 or released documentation but have not launched, while others have a
 limited number of applications available today for their users.
 
     Additionally, Friendster.com is available in the top languages used on
 the Internet today and welcomes and encourages developers to build
 applications in languages other than English. For example, Yobo.com has
 integrated its Chinese-language music discovery and sharing application
 with Friendster using the Friendster Developer Program. Additional
 non-English language applications are under development and will be
 deployed in the weeks and months ahead.
 
     The Friendster Developer Program is designed to provide developers with
 several key features/benefits including:
 
 

     -- Freedom to Monetize Applications - Developers can monetize their
        applications using virtually any model for monetization, and no revenue
        share with Friendster is required. Unlike other social networks, ads
        and monetization will be allowed anywhere in the application and are
        not restricted to rarely-used detail or configuration pages.
 
     -- Open Platform - The Friendster Developer Program includes APIs
        compatible with those used throughout the industry. As a result,
        existing applications on other social networks can easily be imported
        to Friendster. And, existing flash or HTML widgets/applications used on
        other social networks are also supported on Friendster without
        requiring developers to invest effort to modify their design or user
        experience. Additionally, when the OpenSocial APIs are completed and
        secure, Friendster will support OpenSocial APIs, allowing OpenSocial
        applications to be used with Friendster.
 
     -- Equal Opportunity - Friendster released its developer program
        documentation, testing environment and schedule in advance to provide
        equal opportunity for developers around the world to compete for
        mindshare and adoption by Friendster's more than 56 million users.
        Since that announcement on October 25, developers have had over one
        month to plan, build and integrate their widgets and applications with
        Friendster for inclusion in today's launch.
 
     To date, six companies have piloted the Friendster Developer Program in
 the last several months including Rockyou, Slide.com, Clearspring, Imeem,
 Jangl, and Gbox. In the last several weeks, scores of developers have built
 applications for Friendster including 360 Gadget, Active Worlds,
 AmnestyWidgets, Astrology.com, BigDates, Chinese Zodiac Horoscope,
 Chromacoders, ChronusCorp, Clearspring, Cortex Creations, Experience
 Project, Fliptrack, Frencaze, Frozenbear, Gamedesire, Gbox, Gigya, Gizmoz,
 Go Tiger, Guidecast, GWN, Honesty Box, ImageChef, Imeem, Immerse, Improsys,
 Issue Dictionary, Jangl, Job Board, LE Software, Leafletter, Lukup,
 Mangokiwi, MashedUp, LLC, Meez, Mesmo TV, Minekey, MixerCast, My Foot Map,
 MyGoForIt, MyMiniLife, MyTripMap, Ngoprek, Onezine, Pickspal, Pivotal Labs,
 Pollection, Presidio Media, ProTrade, Pyramid Lotto, Qloud, RateMyBody,
 Refresh Corp, Ribbd, RJ Softwares, RockYou, Shelfari, ShopPay, Simple Star,
 Sivrin, Skycore, Slide, Sociallyloud, TravelPod, TripAdvisor, Tripod
 Computing, TrustPlus, TV Loop, Ubelt, Unype, UserPlane, Watercooler,
 Wedsnap, Where I've Been, Wishafriend, Yepb, YOBO, ZDK Interactive and
 Zerocode.
 
     Within Friendster's Developer Program, developers are also currently
 building browser plug-ins, desktop applications, and mobile applications
 that help Friendster's 56 million users do a wide variety of activities
 even when not logged-in and using Friendster.com. Examples of these
 applications include getting your Friendster network activity delivered via
 a browser plug-in, on your desktop computer, or via your mobile phone;
 consuming Friendster content like new photos or messages; or uploading
 content to Friendster.com via different devices or user experiences.
 
     Users can discover new applications through several existing Friendster
 features including:
 
 

        -- Directory - All applications will be listed in a directory located
           at http://www.friendster.com/widgetdirectory and grouped by
           category.
 
     -- "My Network Activity" Module - When a user adds an application, this
        event will appear in the "My Network Activity" module (that summarizes
        a user's activity for their friends in the network), which will virally
        promote a given application to the user's friends.
 
     -- Forward to Friend - Members can share a new application with their
        friends using a number of Friendster's features, such as: Messages,
        Bulletins, Comments, Shoutouts, and more.
 
     -- Browsing Profile Pages - Users browsing other profile pages can
        discover new applications and "grab" and configure them for their own
        profile page.
 
     -- Fan Profiles - Most developers have a Friendster Fan Profile page to
        further promote their applications to Friendster users and to maintain
        an ongoing dialog with their fans to announce enhancements and new
        applications, and soliciting feedback. (See
        http://www.friendster.com/fanprofiles for more information.)
 
     Within weeks, an API for notifications will be introduced letting
 developers allow users to tell their friends automatically about new
 application via a message on Friendster. Also, the directory will be
 enhanced to help user's further sort and discover applications. Additional
 APIs will be added to the Developer Program over the coming weeks and
 months to power new and compelling applications.
 
     About Friendster
 
     With more than 56 million members worldwide, Friendster is a leading
 global online social network. Friendster is focused on helping people stay
 in touch with friends and discover new people and things that are important
 to them. Online adults, 18 and up, choose Friendster to connect with
 friends, family, school, social groups, activities and interests.
 Friendster prides itself in delivering a clean, user-friendly and
 interactive environment where users can easily connect with anyone around
 the world. Friendster has a growing portfolio of patents granted to the
 company on social networking, with more expected over the next several
 months. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Friendster is backed by
 Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Benchmark Capital, DAG Ventures and
 individual investors. For more information, visit:
 http://www.friendster.com.
 
 
 

SOURCE Friendster