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Microsoft Launches Social Network
prostoalex writes "Inspired by the fast growth of social networks such as Facebook and MySpace, Microsoft is launching a test version of its own social network. Wallop brands itself as 'the exclusive social experience,' and is technically a separate company, a startup that's based on technologies developed by Microsoft Research. As far as revenues, Wallop 'plans to sell graphics and other features people can use to decorate their personal profile pages,' says MSNBC."
"The old invite a friend to join thing" is exactly what Google did with Orkut, what Friendster did, and what every other site does if they don't want millions of spambots creating accounts. (And if spambots DO create accounts, you have handy chains that you can use to ban them en masse.)
Secondly, there's already a cottage industry of layouts, graphics, etc., for sale on MySpace. Microsoft wants to tap into it firsthand, is all.
For more information, click here.
This is a private venture that used to be owned by Microsoft. Microsoft doesn't fund, did not develop, and has nothing to do with this site anymore.
"The need to build the internet comes from something inside us, something programmed... something we can't resist."
It's "exclusive" in the sense that all your friends are over on MySpace.