Back in ’90 websites were having just one distribution channel (HTML), now thanks to the API they can reach thousands of users through an API being available everywhere, anyone can become an ubiquity platform. Moreover back in ’90 there were just simple websites, now we have web, mobile and devices applications running through the internet. Thus, the power of information and data that can be used is so much powerful than ever before: "Not having an API today is like not having a website in the 90s" says Martin Tantow co-founder of 3Scale.

1995:  At the beginning  there were just website

2005:  First websites with API as add-ons; they were an additional access/interface to their existing data: e.g Yelp

2008:  The API has overtaken website traffic, the API is more important than the website: e.g Twitter

2009: The API is the product and websites/webapps have become web services: e.g Twilio, Simplegeo

Future: Web services become open platform, applications turn into platforms, everything is programmable and expandable

Yes , in order to survive now and future web must be unique and open . Hey CEO , CTO , Developers etc. , are you ready for that challenge ??

Read more at The Silicon Age by Augusto Marietti