Google+ Opens Social Platform To Everyone

Google has announced that its Google+ social network, which includes a number of popular social games, is ending an invite-only field trial started in June and entering an open beta available to anyone. All internet users can now sign up for a free Google+ account, gaining access to a variety of sharing features and a curated set of social games launched in August. The Google+ games platform currently includes 16 popular titles from publishers including Rovio, PopCap, EA and Digital Chocolate. Achievements and events in these games can be shared with other Google+ users in a section separate from the rest of the network's content. Google launched the games service by charging developers a promotional 5 percent commission on in-game transactions, well below the 30 percent commissions taken by networks like Facebook. The company also recently released an API allowing third-party developers to post and read content from Google+ in their apps. Last week, an analysis by 89n.com found that Google+ users were publishing 40 percent fewer public posts, on average, than when the service launched, suggesting usage among those on the field trial might be decreasing as time goes on.