Andreesen backs RockMelt social browser effort
Once the founder of the venerable Netscape browser, Marc Andreesen is now backing the development of a new browser called RockMelt. Details are scant on the project, except that it will integrate with Facebook Connect.
Andreesen is widely regarded as a pioneer of the Internet as the founder of Netscape. Now he sits on the board of Facebook and invests in Internet startups looking to make it big.
RockMelt is staffed with some of Andreesen’s closest associates and he feels that, “we have backed a really good team.” However that’s as much as he would say about the project.
Andreesen says that browsers have not kept up with the increasingly fragmented and social nature of the Internet. One way that RockMelt will integrate social media is through using Facebook logins via Facebook Connect.
Facebook Connect lets you log into other sites and applications using your Facebook credentials. Using your Facebook login allows the browser to be more personalized and potentially post content directly to your Facebook profile.
A lot of attention is being paid to browsers again due to the success of the Mozilla Foundation’s Firefox browser. Firefox has proven its ability to compete against industry stalwarts like Microsoft and Apple.
However a similar concept called Flock has already tried to integrate social networking into a browser already. Flock was unable to gain the kind of momentum and support that Mozilla has with Firefox.
Still there could be room for a social browser that creates a more personal experience using your Facebook identity. Facebook is skyrocketing in growth to become the fourth largest site on the Internet.
Still the proof will be in the pudding for RockMelt and it’s not even close to being ready. There are reportedly some very early builds circulating on the Web, but there’s no telling when it will be ready for release.
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