With its move to open up the stream of updates on users’ home pages and profiles to third-party developers, Facebook aims to keep pace with Twitter by allowing members to view and update their feeds from more places outside the site itself.
Brands are already trying to get a jump on the era of social commerce by operating their own public profiles on Facebook to connect with customers more directly and informally. Michael Lazerow, CEO of Buddy Media, which develops branded apps and helps run marketer’s Facebook pages, sees big potential in the social network’s new developer APIs.
“Ultimately, this provides brand marketers and media companies many more tools to build engaging experiences for users,” he said. As an example, he imagined Virgin America offering passengers a “Facebook button” in their entertainment system that allows users to read their stream and publish updates at 30,000 feet.
