• Evhead, Wednesday, June 1, 2011 12:17 PM

In the war for consumer connections, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams believes Apple and Google have a distinct advantage over Facebook and, yes, Twitter. That's because, as makers of the top mobile operating systems, Apple and Google have positioned themselves as the ultimate digital gatekeepers.

"Why is it, when you install an app from the AppStore that requires an account, and you don't already have an account on the service, you have to fill out a form and create one?" Williams asks. "It seems like a dumb question, until you consider that this is not your computer. On your phone, you're always already authenticated with your Apple or Google account. How long will it be until the iOS and Android SDKs offer developers one-touch authentication services? It could be a great experience for users, and a great service for developers. Not to mention, highly strategically valuable for Google and Apple (not so much for Facebook)."

Or Twitter, Williams forgot to add. Rumors of a Facebook phone and operating system have circulated for years, but it's getting tougher to imagine any company effectively muscling in on Apple's and Google's turf. Then again, Google came from virtually nowhere to establish its dominant mobile position.

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