Just hours after the launch of Facebook Connect, Google also took the beta tags off its similar Friend Connect venture. Google and Facebook on Thursday announced the availability of competing authentication systems that enable Internet users to sign in to third party Web sites using either their Facebook or Google Account login details. Google Friend Connect lets users sign in to participating Web sites through their Google, Yahoo, AIM, or OpenID accounts. Participation in this case requires site owners to supply Google with some information and to paste the code for desired OpenSocial gadgets into their Web pages. After that, site visitors can log in using the Google Friend Connect widget.

Google’s Friend Connect doesn’t look half-bad at first look, and the set up was nice and easy. However, we are more interested in what you have to say about both Google and Facebook connect services.

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