Social Networks integrate with XBox

Super cool stuff coming out of E3 announcements yesterday by XBox (full wrap up here). They showed some really amazing new game technology, including Project Natal, a new full-body motion-sensitive controller. Not being a hard core gamer what I found really interesting is the announcement of Facebook and Twitter integration with XBox Live. This is how social media becomes relevant and integrated into all online activities.

Starting this fall Facebook Connect will be enabled in XBox Live. This means, if a person chooses to publish it, their game playing activities will show up on their Facebook status. They also announced integration with Twitter. Facebook Connect is single sign on functionality that allows anyone with a Facebook account to sign in on a 3rd party site and have their activities on that site show up in their Facebook status update. I've been a big fan of Facebook Connect since the announcement last year and my only surprise has been the slow speed at which it's been adopted by websites. But XBox Live isn't just another website integrating Facebook Connect, it's a product. XBox Live is a social gaming product that is now enabling customers to tell the world (or at least their social networks) they are using the product, giving XBox first hand product endorsements, something brands salivate for.

Here are a few other smart Facebook Connect integrations where the product is enabling consumer endorsements;

• movie sites like Fandango – If I'm considering taking my kids to 'Up' or 'Night at the Museum' I could ask for feedback from my network through Facebook Connect if it was enabled on Fandango
• Book retailers – I love getting suggestions, feedback on book recommendations before I buy. If I'm on Amazon and deciding between 2 books imagine if I could publish that to my Facebook network for recommendations.

Marketers should always think about how they can enable consumers to be product endorsers. Social Media technology makes this easier than ever. Hats off to XBox, they are definitely leading the way.

You can see more about the XBox news below:

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