Facebook Connect - A new Platform from Facebook

cebook announces its Connect external socialization service, a new developer Web site, international translation of the Platform and other programs. Not announced: the mythical Facebook payment processing platform.
SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook officials announced a number of news nuggets at the Facebook F8 Conference. But the event will be remembered for what the company didn't unveil: the oft-speculated-on Facebook payment processing platform.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters, TechCrunch's Michael Arrington asked about the status of the payment platform, which would allow third-party programmers to charge users for the apps they build on Facebook Platform.

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"I wish I knew," responded Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, disappointing the couple dozen reporters in the room.

What Zuckerberg did announce during the main event was Facebook Connect (which allows users to socialize the external Web), the international expansion of Facebook Platform and some promising new developer programs.

The event lacked the revolutionary cachet of the launch of Facebook Platform at the inaugural F8 last year. But the excitement of Zuckerberg and his stage partner Ben Ling, director of platform management, was contagious. Does that count for anything? Sure, it kept everyone awake through some less than thrilling news.

Facebook Connect is Facebook's first take on data portability. The project makes user profile information portable, allowing users to take their identity and friends with them to any third-party Web site, desktop application or device, while maintaining these contacts' privacy.

This effort has the potential to be fantastic for application development and consumers. With more than 90 million users, Facebook will eclipse MySpace in total users sometime this year.

These users are hungry to move their data to other Web sites in a sort of decentralization of the primary social network, an idea that Zuckerberg proved he understands very well during his presentation. Facebook Connect will let users share actions on partner sites with their friends back on Facebook through feeds.