MySpace Opens Site Up to Developers

MySpace plans to open up its platform in the coming months, following similar moves by competitor Facebook in an effort to continue growing the site's user base.

Whereas current methods already allow developers to build separate applications that can then be placed on profile pages via HTML code, the new offering allows tighter integration with MySpace and its various features.

By allowing developers a little more freedom, it should result in more complex services. For example, an application that changes how a profile's photos display could be built, or other functions could be tied into MySpace's user authentication scheme.

Going above and beyond Facebook's open API, MySpace said that developers also will be able to control the advertising on pages they create. This will create a new revenue stream for those who work to extend MySpace's functionality, and in turn help spur new development.

MySpace acknowledges that opening the site to outside developers may pose a security risk. As a way of ensuring this does not occur, the company has set up a live test area where two million of its users can opt in to test the new applications ahead of their general release.

With Facebook hot on its heels, ensuring that it is staying on par with its competitor is a very high priority for MySpace. Facebook has surged to a strong second place behind MySpace and is growing at a rate four times that of its rival.

Much of the growth in Facebook can be explained through the opening up of its site beyond college students, and allowing developers more control over their applications that appear there.

Facebook has about 47 million users, less than half of MySpace's estimated 110 million.