Hi5 Joins OpenSocial

hi5, one of the world’s leading social networks, today announced its commitment to Google OpenSocial development platform. Google OpenSocial allows developers to easily build far-reaching and powerful applications that are supported on a range of social networks and Web sites like hi5. With more than 35 million active users each month, hi5 is one of the top 10 Web sites in the world, offering a unique opportunity for application developers to reach a global audience.

Previously developers were forced to write separate applications which conformed to separate APIs for each social website. With Google OpenSocial, developers can take advantage of a common set of APIs supported on a wide range of OpenSocial-enabled Web sites. The simple standards-based technologies will speed innovation and bring more social features to more places across the Web.

“Our goal is to make life as simple as possible for developers that want to reach the global hi5 audience,” said Ramu Yalamanchi, CEO of hi5. “Google OpenSocial provides an effortless and practical open standard approach that encourages developers to build innovative applications.”

More developers building widely distributable applications ultimately means more choice for tens of millions of passionate hi5 users. OpenSocial creates new ways to interact, to have more fun with friends, and to express individual interests through new features and applications. With hi5 users spread all over the world, developers leveraging OpenSocial have a unique opportunity to easily localize their applications and to reach hi5′s global users in a culturally relevant way.

Establishing standards-based technologies for the development of applications on social networks marks the beginning of an important new stage for the Web. The Internet has made a significant impact on how people spend their time and consume information. Google OpenSocial makes it possible for users to get more of the applications they want on the social networking sites that are of value to them.

About hi5

Launched in early 2004, hi5 is one of the largest social networks in the World and a top 10 site globally with over 60 million registered members. Today, the service is offered in ten languages, serves as the #1 site in 7 countries, a top 10 site in more than 30 countries across the World, and the #1 social networking service for the global Spanish speaking audience. People use hi5 to stay connected with friends, to share photos of their friends and experiences, and to find out what’s happening around them. Members use hi5 by signing up for a free online account, and they meet people that they know in a fun and safe environment. Each day, millions of people come back to hi5 from around the globe. The Company is privately held, and located in San Francisco.