You know how many of your favorite Android games let you sign in with a Facebook account? You know how many times that sign-in leads to spammy wall posts or clutter in your news feed? Google today announced something similar with Google+ sign-in; however, there’s nary a trace of that added junk. Today, Google debuts its Facebook Login and Open Graph killer.
Google+ Sign-In lets users sign in to your Android app with their existing Google credentials, and bring along their Google+ info for an upgraded experience. In addition to basic authentication, today’s release includes features that can accelerate both app downloads and engagement.
Now, instead of asking you to log in with Facebook or create an account, you can bring your Google+ profile along for the ride. Once tied to the app, your credentials are synchronized and you’re off and running. A number of developers have already been using this feature, including Fancy, Flixter, OpenTable, Shazam, and USAToday.
So what about all the times you log in to an app and favorite a song, station, or movie? Will that show up for all of your circles? Only if you want it to. You can customize who sees what and how often.
Users’ app activities will only be visible to the Google+ circles they specify (if any), and they’ll only appear when they’re relevant. Putting users in control, and not spraying their stream, builds trust in your app and encourages meaningful sharing.
Another great feature is that users will find that many websites can lead to a seamless and even better experience. Log in with your Google+ account on one of these websites and you’ll be asked if you’d like to install the Android app — instantly.
It’s pretty obvious that this move will lead to more Google+ adoption and peel away at Facebook’s stranglehold on social login. This is an uphill battle, sure, but Google is positioning themselves quite nicely. I don’t know about you but I really enjoy a simple login experience. Conversely, I cannot stand how many apps and games tell me that my friends just got a new high score or that they just listened to a specific song. Here’s to Google doing it right.
