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Facebook launches quality certificate for apps
Facebook will award quality certificates to third-party applications that meet certain standards as part of a new scheme that could earn the social network millions of dollars this year.
The programme will see Facebook create two special categories for high-quality applications: Great Apps (a category which currently comprises only iLike and Causes) and Verified Apps. To be eligible for a certificate, apps need to comply with three principles - "respectfulness", "transparency" and "trustworthiness". Developers will need to pay USD375 for each app they submit for verification. If an app passes the test, it will be certified for one year, after which the creator will need to pay a USD375 renewal fee. Facebook expects at least 10% of the 48,000 apps currently on its social network to become Verified Apps. This means the scheme could earn the firm at least USD1.8m in the first year.
"Our guess is half or more will apply," says Michael Arrington, the founder of TechCrunch. This would generate around USD9m in additional revenue for Facebook this year. However, Arrington is sceptical about the philosophy behind the scheme.
"There’s a word for this kind of system. Protection racket," says Arrington. "It’s a beautiful model. And I have no problem with it, as long as we’re all willing to admit that it is what it is."
Applications that receive a certificate will have increased allocations for email and notifications, more visibility in the news feed and USD100 of free advertising credits, as well as carrying a badge on their logos in the apps category. The first certified apps will go live on Facebook in early 2009.
