In the upcoming weeks, Facebook will be making drastic changes to its system. The site will sport a major UI overhaul and a new platform for developers to work with is in production. Facebook feels these changes will help the social network in numerous ways. However Slide, one of Facebook's biggest application makers, may feel differently.
Slide's VP of strategy and business development, Keith Rabois has confirmed that the company will concentrate on its current applications on Facebook instead of releasing new apps. This seems to be a smart move from the company since Facebook's upcoming overhaul will make things harder for developers to not only get their apps to Facebook users, but also to grow their apps. While Sillicon Alley Insider feels this means the end is near for the Facebook app "landgrab", we feel that Slide may simply be adapting to future conditions of Facebook's new platform until all the kinks are sorted out. On the other hand, this is ultimately good news to new developers entering the Facebook app arena.
What happens if Slide doesn't release another app? If their current applications slow down in growth, this could be a devastating move for the company on Facebook. The move is a smart one for now. They are well established on Facebook with plenty of apps to focus on. Focusing on their current products for now is the best thing the company could do to secure their place until the new overhaul is released and properly tested. However, we wouldn't advise Slide to refrain from releasing apps ever again for Facebook and we would warn them not to wait too long before releasing their next app.
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all Read/WriteWeb posts
Well, it makes sense if the new changes on Facebook will effect Slide and its growth. In that case, it makes sense to work on the existing applications and make profits from them. Slide makes 1,000,000 widgets each day so just imagine how many they have out there.
Posted by: AA | June 8, 2008 12:50 PM
I honestly could live without apps. That is one reason friendfeed rocks :) But Facebook is very clever.I wonder what they will be like in 3 months time to use. It couldgetuseful again
Posted by: DC Crowley | June 8, 2008 2:04 PM
this article is a little incoherent, and isn't up to the standard of others on RWW.
Posted by: dave | June 8, 2008 4:02 PM
@DC I agree re. apps. The problem occurs when you take into consideration the fact some make their living off of the FB platform.
Seeing a "blue-chip" app maker step away from f8 and decide to stop making new apps hurts way more to FB's HQ than anyone else.
Posted by: Dave Ambrose | June 8, 2008 5:52 PM