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Microsoft Launches Social Network

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bill-is-your-buddy dept.

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."

7 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. A slice of M$, a la mode by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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'

    Exclusive? I suppose the old invite a friend to join thing is the barrier to keeping seedier people (like most slashdotters and OSS & Linux evangelists) out.

    'Sell graphics and other features ...' Hey, I've got an idea. Why not just build your own website and run a blog on it. Sounds cheaper and more exclusive.

    'technologies developed by Microsoft Research' Does this mean there will be an endless parade of vulnerabilities and patches? That's what I associate with their technologies, based upon a very well established track record. I see it features Flash on the home page. What happened to Microsoft's alternative to that?

    Late to yet another dance, Microsoft attempts once again to show they brought the best date. Not a bad looker, but just don't ask about the white streaks in her hair and the bolt in her neck...

    in soviet russia invite wallops YOU!

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:A slice of M$, a la mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is retarded. How many people are really going to pay for things that they can do for free on other sites that are well established.

    2. Re:A slice of M$, a la mode by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.)

      Still, you can guess there are people sitting in rooms, willing to defeat this scheme so they can include their pharma ads, pump & dumps and other schlock.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    3. Re:A slice of M$, a la mode by nine-times · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Exclusive? I suppose the old invite a friend to join thing is the barrier to keeping seedier people (like most slashdotters and OSS & Linux evangelists) out.

      It's probably just an attempt at reverse psychology. Tell people they can't get in because it's exclusive, and people will want in. It worked for Gmail, but I don't think it'll work here.

  2. An appropriate name by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Consider the following:

    1. to beat soundly; thrash.
    2. Informal. to strike with a vigorous blow; belt; sock: After two strikes, he walloped the ball out of the park.
    3. Informal. to defeat thoroughly, as in a game.

    Considering the success, or lack thereof, of other attempts by Microsoft to enter already established markets, their name will be exactly what will happen to them.

    Granted, I'm sure the reason for the name was to imply that the service will beat Facebook and MySpace but really, the marketing folks should have used history as a guide before settling on the name.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  3. When being early makes them more money by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 2, Insightful
    How to score at a college party? Come late. Girls are drunk and horny. Guys are to drunk to take advantage.

    MS has been using lateness as a business model for a long time and it has worked for them. Let someone else soften up the marketplace. Let the competitior burn themselves out. Come late and you can throw the big pile of cash around to get what you want. If the model is working, why change it?

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  4. Bashing MS? Get off the high -horse..... by joeytmann · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Ok yeah MS has a lot of difficulty staying on track with software development, and what have you. But with out MS, would there be a computer in most peoples homes? Would a large number of us have jobs being the tech-geeks we are? And how many of you have never run a MS OS on their computer or their parents? I bet not a lot can say that. I say, show MS a little respect, with out them the PC wouldn't be anywhere near where its at today.

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    Insert funny smart-ass comment here.