The discussion about Google vs. Facebook and making user data portable validates my opinion.

Since the day MySpace was the place to be, it was obvious to me that MySpace and subsequent services were repeating the original AOL business model.

A carefully camouflaged wall has been under construction since the moment VCs smelled the payday in the social web.

Until Goggle made their play this week, it was a well kept secret. But Google’s move forced Facebook to publicly reveal the wall and their intentions.

Suddenly, people are noticing this issue.

The side affect of data portability is an all but guaranteed lower valuation for these service. If users come and go as they like, vendors have far less ability to protect shareholder value.

There is a new service architecture I can envision to solve the portability issue, one that turns the tables on the vendors of these walled services and give users full control, both in portability and privacy.

But that is for another post.