A while ago Google came out with their own open social network that can be easily embedded on any page.  As a refresher, here is a video. 

Today I was whitelisted to use the google friend connect on my site!  I have installed it and added a members link on the right hand side!  Come join!! 

So how is this useful in the church?

Facebook has shown that connecting people all over the world is powerful and needed.  I like the openness of this new Google connect in that you can develop your own gadgets.  You could potentially connect this with Facebook and other social components to increase collaboration in seminary classes and in wards outside of church and the classroom.

How else can you see this being useful?