How should platform be defined? Official definition is that platform describes some sort of software framework, which allows other software to run.

Let me go ahead and attempt to capture the current broader thinking- Platform is the software/internet/digital medium possibility of reaching out to broad user base.

Microsoft Windows established some time back as platform of great scale. Microsoft guarded it with all its might for a very long time. Applications designed for this platform could reach out to maximum and also Microsoft’s marketing push helped the cause. Then J2EE came around and challenged with its build once and run anywhere appeal. The real shift happened though when Google established search platform- gateway to the web. This platform was open and the deployment here was ‘links’ just like application on windows.

Strategically or unknowingly, Google is moving towards a much bigger play as a platform- iGoogle (where widgets can be deployed), small business strategy and overall tool utilities, all point towards a broader platform. It’s Google applications are available at an amazing cost- Free, we at OuterJoin are also consumers here.

Are we now witnessing birth of another platform- Facebook which would be the Social Platform? Check out the campaign – Save Business 2.0 in Facebook. It is clear that such use cases of strong social affinities will continue to evolve in Facebook, now with the strong adoption by older folks as well.

That also brings to an interesting question, in spite of being number one destination on the web- why hasn’t Yahoo been ever considered as a platform. Is it because of diverse businesses and absence of single focus?

Clearly platforms will evolve at a more rapid rate than it used to. Apple’s iPhones have potential to become mobile platform and we will see more similar innovations.