Facebook Deal with Apple, Ping Becoming More Likely

**Michael Essany** · 10-01-2010, 11:14 AM

The people at Facebook want to make it happen. It seems like the folks at Apple want the same thing. And despite bumps in the road along the way, it now seems inevitable if not imminent that Facebook will team (in some capacity) with Apple's musical social network dubbed "Ping" for yet another embellishment to the social networking days of our lives. According to the Silicon Alley Insider:

At a dinner with New York media last night, Facebook CTO Bret Taylor said he is "very confident" Facebook and Apple will figure out a way to work together on Ping, Apple's music social network.

As it stands, there is no perceptible time table being publicly discussed for when such a deal will be finalized and also result in new bells and whistles for our Facebook experience. Nonetheless, it has been one of the worst kept secrets in the industry that Apple and Facebook have seriously entertained possible partnership opportunities over the last two years. And while "talk" is yet to materialize into "action," Taylor's confidence in his remarks would suggest that something is finally about to happen.

If a partnership pans out, it would likely mean that Facebook executives had to bend more to the wishes of Apple rather than the other way around. If you recall, Ping's introduction in conjunction with the release of iTunes 10 brought with it Steve Jobs' comments about Ping not yet being tied to Facebook because of the social network's terms and demands.

Regardless, it now appears that both parties realize there is likely too much to be mutually gained from a partnership to not give it a try in some capacity in the near future.

Silicon Alley Insider

**jose060789** · 10-01-2010, 11:19 AM

This should be interesting.

Sent from my iPhone 4 using ModMyi

**The Maestro** · 10-01-2010, 11:19 AM

I don't know why they restricted apple to begin with, facebook made that API public and said anyone can use it

**iphone4idiots** · 10-01-2010, 11:25 AM

With 500 million users I blogged this morning that if Facebook Connect had been there from Day 1 Ping would be well over 10 million users and probably more. My guess is Ping only has about 2.5 million and the vast majority are like me that took a peek and haven’t been back for weeks. Facebook is the only way I will ever give Ping another try, but IMO don’t believe Bret Taylor. If it was going to happen it would have happened already. Verizon is getting the iPhone too right

**andygev35** · 10-01-2010, 11:28 AM

I'm kinda bored with Facebook being spammed up with pointless games and such... I hope they really think this one through...

**LSZ33** · 10-01-2010, 11:42 AM

I'm sure another social network will come along and facebook would be a thing of the past as yahoo messenger and myspace have been through. Nonetheless, this is a win-win situation for both. Definitely better for Apple.

**dt0theh** · 10-01-2010, 11:52 AM

michael always with some good news... thanks bro

**tremerone** · 10-01-2010, 12:08 PM

facebook is poo.

Apple should team up with the IMVU people! In a virtual world, a virtual you, can chill, and exchange music with your other virtual friends!

....and as a bonus...in virtual world you can look like a Twilight character, or Avatar!