New Tool Lets Users View Facebook Messages from MySpace Page

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 03/26/08

Fuser.com, a free online tool that enables Internet users to consolidate their e-mail and social networking accounts into a single online inbox, announced the launch of Fuser MySpace. The application allows MySpace users to view Facebook messages and wall posts from their MySpace page. This application was developed under MySpace's new application development platform.

The idea for the application was spurred in part by the results of a national third-party survey that examined social networking usage trends and preferences among 13- to 42-year-olds. According to the results, social networking users continue to use both MySpace and Facebook, despite strong personal preferences that favor one site over the other.

The company-sponsored research showed that among college-aged (18- to21-year-old) respondents, Facebook and MySpace seem to have similar market share. Seventy-five percent of these respondents indicated they use Facebook, and 71 percent spend three or more hours per week on the site. Seventy-seven percent use MySpace, and 50 percent of them spend three or more hours per week on that site. When asked to choose their preferred social networking site, 56 percent indicated their favorite is Facebook, the top reason being it is where the majority of their friends are.

"The desire to stay connected to friends and family is extremely strong for social networking users and often outweighs personal preferences of one site over the other," said Jeff Herman, president of Fuser. "Unfortunately, this translates to consumers having to juggle multiple online communication accounts--a problem that continues to become more pervasive as the popularity of social networking sites grows."

Users can add the Fuser Facebook application from apps.facebook.com/fuserforfb. The Fuser MySpace application is at www.myspace.com/FuserForMySpace.