hi5 Networks Upgrades OpenSocial Platformhi5 Networks Upgrades OpenSocial Platform

hi5 Networks has released a new developer platform with common RESTful APIs for building social applications across the Web.

The social networking site's OpenSocial 0.8 standard upgrade gives developers a platform that allows them to choose their preferred language for building applications that retrieve and update data from hi5 and other OpenSocial platforms.

hi5 Networks said it's the first social networking site to release the upgraded interface, which expands OpenSocial beyond its JavaScript roots.

"I'm delighted that hi5 is the first Open Social container to release the 0.8 upgrade," said Ali Partovi, CEO of iLike. "As one of hi5's most popular applications, iLike reaches a substantial audience of music fans via hi5, and we've been looking forward to these improvements in the platform."

The new platform aims to promote a greater variety of applications for mobile devices and Web sites in a better-defined and more secure environment.

"The social web is a phenomenon we at hi5 clearly embrace and promote," Akash Garg, CTO of hi5, said in an announcement. "Open, interoperable standards are essential to fostering the vibrant developer community that is making that vision a reality. OpenSocial is core to our strategy of providing our users with new, immersive and engaging ways to use hi5, so we are very pleased to be the first of the OpenSocial partners to adopt the 0.8 standard."

hi5 Networks said the release marks the first time that several social networks have joined together under a common API to give developers easier and more convenient development and integration.

Third party developers can use the platform to build compatible applications for multiple networks, while users can enjoy the same experience on various sites, applications, and social networks.

hi5's release of the new platform comes as Google announced the formation of the OpenSocial Foundation, a group of social networking site representatives aiming to promote OpenSocial among developers by making it available at no cost.