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Why Google Limits Access to Facebook Through Gmail?

posted November 11, 2010 / No Comments

The relationship between Google and Facebook is complicated but it has never been so tense following Google’s decision to prevent Facebook users from obtaining ...

The relationship between Google and Facebook is complicated but it has never been so tense following Google’s decision to prevent Facebook users from obtaining direct access from their Gmail account. It illustrates a growing rivalry between the two major Internet companies. The world’s number one Internet search engine no longer allows automatic email imports to Facebook friend list, unless there is a reciprocal flow of information.

It is likely that Google is annoyed by its relationship imbalance with Facebook. If users perform searches while on Facebook, write e-mails via Facebook, use instant messaging with Facebook, all this may come at the expense of Google.

Google accuses Facebook that it taps into Gmail’s user data without providing Google enough access on Facebook subscribers. The largest social network site has more than 500 million subscribers and it uses external e-mail services such as Google’s Gmail to help members find friends that are already part of the network. It especially allows Facebook to increase its enrollment steadily. However, Mark Zuckerberg’s company did not immediately react to this issue.

Some experts believe that there are other justifications for Google in performing this action. The future domination of Internet may be concentrated in the emerging battle between Facebook and Google.

By blocking the Facebook API (Application Programming Interface) for retrieving contacts from Gmail users to perform “friend requests”, Google tries to create a “win-win” situation, it has been many months since Google has tried to convince Facebook to open more access, which can be similarly beneficial to Google. Essentially, this issue must be quickly addressed by Facebook as it depends on external services like Gmail to allow its member to find new friends.

We all know that Google has social networking aspirations. The Internet Giant had even hinted about a current development of a social network service but has never shared any information about the project. It is also possible that they allow people to have an access on Facebook through their Gmail service to estimate how many Gmail users have Facebook account.

Because as of today, the access has been severely restricted and could be terminated completely soon, it has caused some speculations among experts that Google will release its own social network in one or two years. As of right now, Google doesn’t have any kind of presence in social networking segment and it is logical that Google is reaching out to complete their domination on the Internet.