BuddyPress to help Automattic and WordPress go social

WordPress is the bloggers platform of choice and with its array of plugins it can do nearly anything.  The WordPress Multiuser plugin BuddyPress let you turn a standard WPMU install into a powerful roll-your-own social network, now this plugin has been pulled into Automattic.

What I didn’t realize (doh!) was that BuddyPress was developed by Andy Peatling of Blaze New Media–in Vancouver!

This has been getting a lot of press today, and for good reason too because it tips Matt’s hand as to Automattic/WordPress’ plans for making a powerful, new social networking tool:

• Vancouver’s BuddyPress goes Automattic | Techvibes Blog
• Wordpress: Going after Ning.com? – - mathewingram.com/work
• Photo Matt » Backing BuddyPress
• BuddyPress (just shows a coming soon with an Automattic logo now)
• Another Andy at Automattic
• Automattic Assimilates BuddyPress, Moves Towards Social Networking

Ning on the ropes?
As Mathew Ingram notes that it could be a powerful competitor to Ning, especially if you can just install it all on your servers.  Rob muses on Techvibes if it will be rolled into WP 2.5.  That I doubt, I mean it could be possible, but I think the power and flexibility really comes with using it on WPMU.

Me?  I’d install it on my servers.  If it seems robust enough I’d sure recommend it to others groups like schools and small businesses.

Facebook should be worried
I’m still thinking that Facebook has peaked.  Social networking is as hot as ever, but Facebook, well I’ve grown weary of it.  Silly apps and no real use for me.  Sure I go there once and a while, but emailing me through there … I might respond, eventually.

With this kind of application, then a savvy company could build something cool for pretty much any group.

Yes the power of Facebook is how many folks are there, so yeah it won’t die easily, but using it for a business or something…I’d pass.  Tie it all in with OpenID and you have one ID for lots of different networks.

Sounds like a great idea.  Sounds like Facebook should be worried.