Home Facebook to Offer Data Storage?

Facebook to Offer Data Storage?

Rev2.org is reporting that buried deep in the Facebook Developer wiki is mention of a Data Store API hinting at Facebook’s possible intention of offering data storage to app developers. The wiki page was updated this morning to announce that the service is now in open beta and is accessible by any application (any app developers out there want to shed more light on this one?).

Just this afternoon I wrote about platform definitions floated by Marc Andreessen, who called Facebook a level 2 platform — or a “plug in API.” It seems like Facebook might be transitioning into what Andreessen would call a level 3 platform — one that “handles everything required to run your application on your behalf.”

People actually began noticing the Data Store API back in August when Facebook employee Haiping Zhao first published the page in the Developer wiki, though it only just came out closed beta this morning. When it first appeared Marc Canter noted that it would be in competition with Amazon’s S3 service, which is a popular storage option among Facebook application developers (and indeed among many online app developers).

While it’s probably smart for Facebook to provide data hosting capabilities and lock developers into the platform even more tightly, for that same reason I’m not sure it makes sense for developers to build apps that rely so heavily on a single platform. If you store you data off site, you can more easily extract your application outside of Facebook, as Where I’ve Been has done.

As AllFacebook points out, Facebook’s acquisition of Parakey earlier this year, points to their desire to become a web OS. Data storage capabilities for platform developers (and users) is a step in that direction.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.