Google+ API launching with “trusted testers” in days, general availability in weeks

Good news: A few “trusted” developers will be getting their hands on the Google+ API in the next few days, with wider availability coming in the next weeks, according to a leaked letter from Google Ventures.

Developers have been clamoring to get their hands on theAPI since the network’s launch a few months ago.

We asked Google about the letter, but the company declined to talk about a specific timeline. “We definitely plan to involve developers and publishers in the Google+ project, but we don’t have specific details to share just yet,” a Google spokesperson said.

On the assumption the letter is legit, “trusted testers,” which are developers working under the Google Ventures header, will get access to some APIs in the “next few days.” Two to four Google Ventures companies will get access first.

Developers who aren’t in the Google Ventures stratosphere will likely get access in the “next few weeks.” Some reports have said the API is actually months away, but since Google is keeping API developments so close to the chest, it’s hard to know anything for certain at this point.

Here’s the leaked letter Google Ventures sent to its portfolio companies:

Hi –

The Google+ team is going to be starting to roll out some of their APIs to our Trusted Tester program in the next few days (followed by a more general availability in the next few weeks). They’ve agreed to give this early access to a small number (2-4) of our portfolio companies.

If you’re interested, we’d like you to at least be able to commit to building a small “hello world” app quickly (in the next 3-5 days). This stage of the program is more about feedback on docs and code for now, with an intent to have more meaningful interactions with G+ as more APIs roll out.

If you’re interested, please email me back with your company name, contact name, and email address.

Sam