Published: 13 Dec 2007

As per the information available, in first such deal, Bebo's Open Application Platform is compatible with the code used on Facebook, meaning that applications built for one of the sites needs only minor alterations to work on the other.

Bebo is opening up its platform to third-party developers. It means that anyone will be able to write small programmes and applications to run on Bebo.

These "apps" will enable Bebo users to do more things within Bebo - such as editing photos, sharing songs they like and getting information on the latest film releases - and will lessen the need for Bebo members to visit other websites, as they will be able to perform more and more tasks via the social network.

Bebo CEO Michael Birch said his company is concurrently working with Google's OpenSocial interoperability initiative, but wanted to get its own platform out the door before that alliance is ready. Bebo is posing itself as a friend to everyone, but since Facebook and Google are at odds, we'll have to see how its allegiances are tested when OpenSocial launches (which Birch said he expected will take place "early next year").

"By opening up our API and establishing an open developer-friendly platform, we enable developers big and small to create entertaining, engaging applications for our global community," said Birch. "It provides another great way for Beboers to communicate, relate and express themselves online."

Facebook is not yet compatible with OpenSocial, but had started working with Bebo on a joint platform before the Google project was announced, according to Bebo President Joanna Shields.

"We have a great relationship with Facebook and they did really impressive things with their application platform. But we had widgets on the site a long time before that became so successful," Shields said. According to media reports, websites will increasingly move to make their services open and their content shareable, and mobile will see the next big wave of activity for social networks, said Shields.

"As people who want to invest more and more of their time in their social networks, the mobile is a natural interface for everyone to communicate with friends and family, for media sharing and content," she added. "It's an integral part of the lifestyle media and community structure. It will be very exciting and Bebo is going to be at the forefront of that."