John Robb's Weblog: Platform types

John Robb's first thoughts on taxonomizing platforms

Here's an attempt at a high level categorization of platform types (really early thinking on this):

One method is parasitic. Where the services promote the development of new services that run outside of the core offering.

The second is participatory. Where the services promote the development of new capabilities within the core offering (enhancing it).

A final type is symbiotic. Where multiple platforms leverage each other to create a combinatorial platform. Each platform leverages the services of the other to enhance themselves.