Is Facebook creating an industry in itself like Google

Facebook applications according to estimates have reached more than 65 million; that is 2.3 applications per person. That is an enormous amount of applications created in relatively short time. This new piece of statistics made me think the amount of code involved in writing these applications as well as the fact that facebook might have started a new industry in itself.

A web based service or a website being so famous so that it gives rise to a new industry in itself is not we have witnessed for the first time. Google did it by giving rise to the Search Engine optimization industry as well as giving a nitrobooster to the Online Advertising industry where Google currently is a market leader with more than 60% share.

There are several new businesses who’s business models are based on Facebook applications and there are several of them who have reworked their business model to suit Facebook applications. However, one this that is really hurting the Facebook platform is the fact that there are very few serious applications out there on Facebook. Most of them are either games, or sending crazy animations and illusions to your friends and even more of them are blatant SPAM operating under facebook platform.

Therefore, I would conclude that although number of applications as well as the number of users and the growth rate is on facebook side, it still has a long way to go with respect to applications and with respect to creating an industry in itself.

Lets hope it does and I have some more freelance work to do on Facebook applications. ;)