Add a TripConnect Travel Profile on Facebook

Facebook officially released there API about ten days ago and many developers and organizations are in a rush to complete their apps. When I first looked at the API, I was a bit skeptical about the functionality and the benefit in building an app. But I came back after Memorial Day Weekend and immediately set the team working on an application for TripConnect.

The current version of the TripConnect Application allows Facebook members to build a travel profile and publish parts of it on their Facebook profile page. I have a screenshot below of my profile object showing my favorite destinations, places I want to go, and  my travel interests. If you're a Facebook member, you can also add the TripConnect Application.

Facebook clearly rushed the announcement and release of the API. While MySpace is building their walled garden and finding ways to prevent third parties from integrating their components, Facebook is taking the exact opposite approach and allowing developers to plug in their apps. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Facebook is putting some controls on their application directory and their terms of service reserves them rights to charge fees in the future.

The API has promise. There is a markup language (fbml) for dynamic publishing pages (called a canvas on Facebook) and a query language (fql) for making sql like queries of the Facebook data structures. There are development kits for almost all of the popular web development platforms. But the API looks like it was rushed out the door. Many users are having trouble with authentication, cache'ing and other integration bits. I publish a separate blog for software developers and technologists and plan to put some development hints up there in the near future.

TripConnect Profile Object on Facebook