Google has opened up API for one of the most sought after data from Google accounts, the contacts list. Now programmers have an easy way to integrate user’s contact list into their web and desktop applications as well syncing the mobile devices. The API allows for reading, creating, updating and deleting the contacts data using the GDate protocol based on Atom publishing format. It is a two-way API providing the ability to sync Google contacts with any application and vice versa. I see it as a threat for Plaxo which also provides a similar sync API providing user ability to import and sync contact lists stored in different email accounts.According to Google team, this will allow developers to make robust applications based on contact list without compromising on user’s sensitive information i.e. the Google account username and password. One of the concerns with services providing single sign-on feature is that the applications can have access to almost all the account information which is hidden behind the username and password. Since most of the applications require the users to provide their username and password, it clearly becomes a threat for them. Think of some malicious application which asks for Google account username and password. Once the credentials are provided, the application will have access to any of the Google services and user data including Google Adsense since Google is now trying to integrate your Adsense account with Google account. With the Contact API, Google seems to be solving this problem.

Do you think that Google Contact API poses a serious challenge for Plaxo?

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