RSSMS' Social Networking Spinoff Launches
By Ed Oswald | Published September 26, 2006, 1:54 PM
Microsoft spin-off Wallop launched its social networking service at the DEMOfall technology conference Tuesday, saying its unique business model is what sets itself apart from competing services like Facebook and MySpace.
Unlike other social networking services, Wallop is invite-only and will never include advertising. Instead, Wallop would make its money through the purchase of self-expression items that can be placed on the user's profile. Such items, online or off, generate $3 trillion in revenue per year.
The aim is to make this process as easy as possible. One-click customization replaces the HTML coding process that is necessary with sites like MySpace. In addition, users control who can see what on their profile, keeping personal information hidden from those they may not know as well.
Wallop also takes on a unique design: the service is entirely built on Flash, which provides a more application-like experience.
While some may scoff at the "exclusive" nature of Wallop, the company sees it as a positive. Not only does this make the site safer, it also gives a VIP-like feel to being a member of the site.
Initially, the site will be open to a limited number of beta testers, who would each be given five invites. Future invites would be based on who uses the site most, the company said. The site is expected to go public in early 2007.
"After taking a long, hard look at social computing, it became clear that it is not simply about the technology, which has been limited and plagued with problems to date," said Karl Jacob, CEO and founder of Wallop.
"It's about the trend of self-expression moving online, creating enormous demand for easy and limitless customization and an enlightened social experience where the user is in control," he continued.
In addition, users will be able to share music, pictures and commentary across the site. Wallop says all the digital rights management functionality would be controlled by the site. This would include the mods to site pages, where the company asks for a 30 percent cut.
Initial funding for the project has come from Norwest Venture Partners to the tune of $10 million USD. An additional $3 million in funding was previously raised from Bay Partners and Consor Capital.
Can you give me a invitation?
my email is ke.chen@gmail.com
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Sounds a LOT like Google's www.orkut.com and the invite only marketing is identical.
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Can't Sign-Up...
http://www.thelavarock.n.../WallopErrorMessage.jpg
:-(
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Linky:
http://mywallop.com/
Interesting to note:
No sign-up info and...
Copyright ©2006 Wallop Technologies, Inc.
Not much of a launch, if ya ask me.
Note: I got that link from MS's social engineering research projects page @ http://research.microsoft.com/scg/
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If you go to www.wallop.com there is a link there where you can "Get invited" All it does is sends an email to getinvited@wallopcorp.com where you put down why you would like an invite. Sent mine will have to wait and see.
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lmao...
We have to *justify* why we should be allowed to be their guinea pigs?
Riiiiight. No thanks.
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"Not much of a launch, if ya ask me."
"The site is expected to go public in early 2007."
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"The site is expected to go public in early 2007."
From TFA:
Microsoft spin-off Wallop launched its social networking service at the DEMOfall technology conference Tuesday
I repeat...not much of a launch...
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That is the main point of this kind of scheme. They make it invitation-only so that people build expectation and it becomes popular.
I sent an e-mail too, let's see if I get an invite.
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Sorry, my reply above was to PC_Tool.
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