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MSN tests web 2.0 waters through contribute and debate
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Web 2.0 has been buzzing with enthusiasm in India. Now with the first indian social network recieving funding it seems like web 2.0 is surely here to stay. Its no surprise then to see large portals like yahoo, rediff, msn and indiatimes looking at web 2.0 to retain their userbase and increase activity on their sites.
So if yahoo and rediff have gone ahead with the question and answer format with yahoo answers and rediff qna, Msn is testing a different kind of web 2.0 product known as msn debate. Msn debate based on the same concept as the debates held in schools and colleges. Basically one has to agree or disagree with a particular statement and then explain why he or she agrees or disagrees.
Here is a screenshot (click image to enlarge)
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The other product that msn seems to be testing is MSN contribute which is a platform where users can submit their own articles on various topics. Though this may sound like a blogging platform it isn’t one in the real sense of the term as the articles submitted look like they are moderated which is unlike what other blogging platform provides. Also each article has a blog this link on top again emphasizing that contribute isn’t a blogging platform but is a more controlled user generated articles platform.
But what was notable were the add this feed to snippets at the end of each article. Not only did msn have its own add to snippets it also had ones from google and yahoo which is unlike anything i have seen on msn before.
Here is a screenchot (click image to enlarge)
.jpg?PHPSESSID=1ad591a4dc8a7d7a089bc66e3c8a2e5e "snippets")
As per an interview given by the country manager of MSN India and Windows Live Jaspreet Bindra "User generated content is certainly the sole puller which will drive the concept of Web 2.0. We are pilot testing two channels—MSN Debate and MSN Contribute, which will drive User Generated Content. Both are great platform for advertisers—sorry can’t name them—to reach out to their target audience. "
So it seems the products are already backed by advertisers. It will be interesting to see though how these two product eventually evolve.
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great post.
Just wanted to point out out that the all the authors links seem to be pointing to your name :), maybe you ought to fix that.
Sudhanshu
http://sudhanshuraheja.com
Yup Ive been getting a lot of dirty looks from everyone at WATblog! .. Its a software ugrade bug and im still trying to fix it.. but no one seeems to believe me!
Hi Sudhanshu,
We've been hounding Rajiv to rectify that! and he will hopefull do it soon.
Cheers,
Ekalavya
The first Indian social networking site that got funding was Sulekha.com and it is not the recent NVP funding for $10M but way back when the Indigo Monsoon Group funded it around the year 2000. In other words, Sulekha.com had user-generated content before many current Indian websites even had a domain name registered. Just for your info.
Sulekha in no way can be classified as a pure Social Networking site…
When you hear about social networking - what comes to your mind is Orkut, Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, LinkedIn….
and even in India no one considers Sulekha as a Social Networking site.
WATblog has covered a lot of social networks and as an avid reader of their blog i remember them doing a post on Sulekha too.
A Social Networking site has user-generated content. Sulekha has been having that from 1998 and is a Web 2.0 pioneer among Indian Social Networking sites (http://www.nvp.com/news/nvppressDrill.aspx?prID=139). Sulekha offers, other than blogs, groups, event ticketing and other "channels" like movies, cricket, travel etc. services such as classifieds and yellow pages all under one roof. 95% of the content comes from members. What more definition is needed for a "pure" social-networking site, if I may ask?
Lets not have a an MSN debate here!
We all know about Sulekha. Sulekha has definitely been a pioneer in content aggregation. I think what Sanjeev meant wasn't a User Generated Content site but something like where you directly connect with people, find old friends and make new ones.
I think we even mailed you guys (Assuming you are working at Sulekha.com) - about Social Networking on behalf of WAT Consult