MySpace makes bid for socializing on Google phone

Social networks MySpace and Facebook have already courted iPhone users with programs that let people stay connected on the Apple Inc. smart phone. Now MySpace is first to unveil one for owners of the just-released G1 phone powered by Google Inc.'s Android operating system.

News Corp.-owned MySpace announced a mobile application for the G1 this week that can be downloaded wirelessly to the device through the Google-run Android Market. The Market is stocked with add-on programs and games built by third-party developers.

The G1 is made by Taiwan's HTC Corp. and released Wednesday by T-Mobile in the U.S. The phone costs $179 with a two-year contract.

MySpace's Android application is its second for a device sold by T-Mobile _ there is also one for the Sidekick _ and it lets G1 users do many of the same things they can do from a desktop computer, like look at profiles and photos on MySpace. In addition, the application lets G1 users quickly upload photos from the phone to their MySpace profiles.

There's no mobile Facebook program for the Android Market, and a Facebook spokeswoman said the company had nothing to say on the subject. However, if history is any indicator, something could be forthcoming: Facebook has developed applications for the iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry.