14 DAY TRIAL // Ning has taken a major step forward with the launch of a new app platform called Ning Apps. The social networking site, which allows its users to create a customized social network around any topic now has over 90 apps available for its users and the number is expected to grow significantly. The app platform was launched in beta in May and released in its final form last week with apps from the likes of WordPress, Hulu and others.
“As a social platform, we’re finding that each interest and passion requires a unique combination of features. Ning Apps dramatically expand the quantity and quality of the features available on your Ning Network, and allow you to engage even further with your members,” Ning's Jason Rosenthal wrote. “Today you can choose from more than 90 Ning Apps, and that’s just the beginning. This number will continue to grow as developers here at Ning and around the world build additional Ning Apps tailored around your interests and passions.”
The apps are based on Google's OpenSocial platform and the standard may help developers create new apps in a short time frame. One interesting aspect of how apps work on the social network might prove very enticing for app developers. Network Creators can decide to deploy an app over the entire social network they control possibly opening an app to hundreds of thousands of users instantly. Users will be able to hide the apps once deployed, and it’s likely that, especially the bigger networks, will notify their users in advanced or even give them a voice in the decision so this shouldn't create too much inconvenience.
Ning boasts over 1.5 million social networks, though the number of those actively used may be a lot smaller. It also has a 33-million user base worldwide, not exactly Facebook numbers but certainly nothing to scoff at. But if it wants to continue to compete with the other big players in the market, it needs a dedicated app platform and with its unique aspects, it may prove to be a popular move.