Facebook Connect comes to iPhone

Facebook has unveiled a new application for the iPhone, Facebook Connect. This application will allow iPhone developers to connect their applications to the popular social networking site which currently hosts discussion boards, photos, links, and video content amongst friends, co-workers, and relatives in a virtual world.

Currently users of Facebook are able to access their account via the free Facebook application for the iPhone. The niche filled by Facebook connect is much different, as it allows multiple applications to share and exchange information and logins rather than having multiple log-ins for every site.

The Facebook Connect Software Development Kit (SDK), available for use in Cocoa (the software development platform utilized by iPhone application developers) provides the code to third party developers which allows them to embed hooks into their applications, this way individuals who use their application can log in via their Facebook login, and share and connect information across multiple sites. As far as privacy is concerned users maintain rights and permissions to their content and how it is shared.

An example of Facebook Connect in use currently via the iPhone is Urbanspoon, which allows individuals to review restaurants, vote, and share photos with Friends via their Facebook news feed.

Joe Hewitt, developer of the Facebook Connect Software Development Kit (SDK) claims that game developers at this point have been the first to adopt the Facebook Connect for iPhone application.