Google's social platform, Google+, has released its first developer APIs, which will allow for the first third-party Google+ applications.
The release of the APIs comes on the back of the updated release of the +1 button for site owners.
In a statement posted on the Google+ Platform Blog yesterday, the search giant says: “We want every one of you who builds applications to be able to include rich sharing, identity, and conversations in your app. Today, we're taking the next step on that journey by launching the first of the Google+ APIs.”
This initial API release is focused on public data only, allowing access to information shared publicly on the social network.
Google developer advocate Chris Chabot says: “Nothing great is ever built in a vacuum, so I'm excited to start the conversation about what the Google+ platform should look like.”
Technical details on how to use the APIs are available on the developer site.
Chabot says there will be a team of Google employees dedicated to working with the developer community.
The development of Google+ applications may provide a new wave of interest in the site, which has seen user activity levels steadily decline after the initial explosion of interest.
At the beginning of August, analytics firm ComScore released a report saying Google+ had reached 25 million users - despite being limited to an invitation-only model. That figure is now expected to be closer to 30 million, but official figures are yet to be released.
ComScore said at the time that Google+ was the fastest growing social network in history; however, the same report showed the site was seeing a decline in the number of daily visits.
Analysis from Experian Hitwise also showed the average number of minutes spent on Google+ peaked in mid-July and has been declining since.
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