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Google in talks to build Facebook competitor: report

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Attendees await the beginning of the unveiling of the Nexus One Android smartphone at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California January 5, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

Attendees await the beginning of the unveiling of the Nexus One Android smartphone at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California January 5, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Robert Galbraith

NEW YORK | Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:30am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc has held talks with gaming companies as it looks to develop a new service to compete with social networking website Facebook, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Internet giant has had talks with makers of online games for the service including Playdom Inc, Electronic Arts Inc's Playfish and Zynga Game Network Inc, the report said.

The report said is unclear when the new offering will be launched.

Google already owns and operates social networking site Orkut. The company could not be immediately reached for comment.

Walt Disney Co said earlier on Tuesday it is planning to acquire Playdom for $563.2 million, as the young but fast-growing market for Internet games on Facebook and other websites has exploded, increasing the links between social gaming developers and social networking.

(Reporting by Michael Erman, editing by Bernard Orr)
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Comments (9)
pocketdare wrote:
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict failure on this one. Even if casual gaming is enough of a hook to lure in vast networks of people it’s simpler for facebook to dial up a gaming element than it is for Google to replace the existing network.

Jul 27, 2010 10:47pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Mike10613 wrote:
Facebook do well because they understand the market. They have made mistakes especially linking up with other social networking sites; there are privacy concerns. Google should stop getting greedy, they put money into Myspace and that is on it’s way down – way too complex now. KISS – Keep it Simple stupid; should be on desks at Google, Microsoft Yahoo and a few other multi nationals (I won’t even start on bankers). No this isn’t for Google unless they get an advisers who uses and knows social networking.

A new network that caters for Facebook users, LinkedIn users, small businesses and gives the little guy his 15 minutes of fame on the internet. Keep it simple but with forums and make it easier to chat – the IM on Facebook is appalling. hat applies to all social networking. The ‘groups’ on LinkedIn are good but try editing a comment after you have made typo. You have to be passionate not greedy to be a success – Google are greedy now. I won’t do business with them any more. I was a publisher and advertiser. They got where they are by using the same tactic as Microsoft; they ripped people off.

Jul 28, 2010 5:40am EDT  --  Report as abuse
PwlM wrote:
For starters they should change the name.
Orkut? Waht kind of name is that? They may as well call it cabbage…

Jul 28, 2010 9:12am EDT  --  Report as abuse
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