Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Future of Facebook Apps?
In "Facebook Is Extending Its Network to Blood Donations" from the New York Times, Peter S. Goodman writes about the Facebook-based Takes All Types that notifies potential blood donors when their blood type is needed in their area.
Two points stand out. First, this is one of an emerging breed of Facebook apps that combines the enormous global user base of Facebook with local information. From those millions and millions, you often wind up with significant small numbers in a constrained area. (See the book's example ChamplainArts as well as the extra download Plattsburgh Picks.)
The second point is a quote from Ben Bergman, one of the founders of Takes All Types: "“The whole thing was done in about three months, for about $500."
Facebook apps are often low-cost ways to promote a product or cause or even to solve a problem (blood shortages). This has a lot of ramifications for developers--such as the fact that big bucks aren't necessarily part and parcel of Facebook development. What it means is that developing Facebook apps is just one more tool in the arsenal of Web developers and marketers. (Dare I mention that this is one of the ideas behind How to Do Everything: Facebook Apps? Get in, analyze what you can do, do it, and get out.)
Two points stand out. First, this is one of an emerging breed of Facebook apps that combines the enormous global user base of Facebook with local information. From those millions and millions, you often wind up with significant small numbers in a constrained area. (See the book's example ChamplainArts as well as the extra download Plattsburgh Picks.)
The second point is a quote from Ben Bergman, one of the founders of Takes All Types: "“The whole thing was done in about three months, for about $500."
Facebook apps are often low-cost ways to promote a product or cause or even to solve a problem (blood shortages). This has a lot of ramifications for developers--such as the fact that big bucks aren't necessarily part and parcel of Facebook development. What it means is that developing Facebook apps is just one more tool in the arsenal of Web developers and marketers. (Dare I mention that this is one of the ideas behind How to Do Everything: Facebook Apps? Get in, analyze what you can do, do it, and get out.)
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