I just want to point out to everyone that this project is going to be open to everyone to wants to consume it. It is NOT a biz dev deal.

The reason for the 'launch partners' is simply to have companies to test the implementation with and also to add what we call in the world of strategy 'color' the implementation --- IE it demonstrates completely what the product is for the benefit of those who are not as technically savvy as us.

One of the key failings of a lot of good announcements like this is companies announce their API/platform/whatever but don't have any way to complete the loop and show what can be done with it - to spark the imaginations of those who may not completely get it otherwise.

Seriously guys THIS IS NOT A BIZ DEV DEAL - everyone will be able to use this!!!

Why did you reinvent the wheel? Why didn't you use make use of existing Open Standards ( OpenID, OAuth, Microformats )?

I have no idea what wheel you think MySpace are inventing...

The whole thing uses oAuth for authentication and MySpace has said it is looking into implementing OpenID (the biggest issue on that front is the number of sites that ask for your MySpace username/password to add layouts to profiles - those credentials suddenly become more valuable).

I'll push for Microformats if I can be sure that all of the profile information can be represented... xfn and hCard sure, but there's other info on profiles too.

Seriously dude, no wheel being re-invented here.

MySpace is not going to make any friends in the open web community by hijacking the DP brand (not that anyone really owns it, just guiding it). There is already enough confusion between DP and OpenSocial, and now DA which is really the same thing as a DP Use Case yet to be published. I could understand their need to brad this announcement in some way, but Data Availability is a bit of a hijack-ish name. It is not a stretch to think that if MySpace is willing to hijack the brand, why not the entire standard and spirit of DP? I do have faith in you Ben. I am just wondering if you have enough pull as their consultant to address these PR issues as well as the technical ones.

So, what it boils down to is that a bunch a the big guys are going to use each other's open APIs in a spirit similar to DP, with the promise that others will be able to use these APIs in the near future. It is a bit like F8, only indy developers are not making the apps that make the connections, it is the big sites themselves.

I can't really comment on your point about who should have written the press release, so I won't. :)

There's also a way how all of this works in companies which works differently to how those of us in the grassroots work (I guess I transcend both) and sometimes you have to bring the value to them in their language and not the other way around.

I'm far more interested in what's implemented and how it's implemented and I'll do my best to ensure it's fully baked. To say I feel the pressure given my feet in both camps is an under-statement. but I feel like I'm putting my money where my mouth is and getting stuck in to try my best.

I do take issue with your last paragraph. This is not about 'big boys' using each other's APIs. Everyone will be able to use this and I'm hoping that the day it's available on Yahoo, eBay and Twitter it will also be available for access by anyone. Again, read my point above as to why there are launch partners - it's to test the implementation and create a complete value chain that everyone can appreciate (esp if you're a decision maker at a potential consumer for this!)

thanks for clearing this all up here and on TC. This sounds indeed better than the initial announcement in which you could have interpreted quite a lot.

I am hope that many people involved in this will show up in esp. the technical action group. And having a working exampe at hand is certainly also not bad as this counts in the end.