Is There Room For Another Social Network?

A simple question, how many social networks do you belong to. I count five for me, although I haven't gone on My Space in over a year and they are getting set to layoff employees and sell the business at a fraction of the purchase price. There is of course Facebook, where I admit, I visit throughout the day as well as LinkedIn for my business networking. There is Twitter, for quick updates of news and gossip. And most recently, Foursquare, where I am still a newbie. So let's call it four for active use; do I need another, not unless it can offer something uniquely better than what I already have.

"On Tuesday, Google introduced a social networking service called the Google+ project — which happens to look a lot like Facebook. ... But the Google+ project will be different in one significant way, which Google hopes will be enough to convince people to use yet another social network. It is meant for sharing with groups — like colleagues, roommates or hiking friends — not with all of one’s friends or the entire Web. It also offers group text messaging and video chat." Is that enough to make a difference? I would suspect that Facebook will quickly add this feature and more before Google+ is fully released.

This is not Google's first attempt at a social network. Previously there was Buzz which didn't get any praise reviews. Still it is hard to count Google out of the picture. They have proven an ability to come and compete and be successful. Their Android product has fared very well against Apple and the iPhone. And tying in Google+ with Android phones in a seamless way may be the right mix of social, group dynamics, and mobility that we need. Can they put it together and out the door before Facebook and others tweak their software? In this fast pace race, it is all about the timing.

E-Book Reader Vs Tablet, Can Both Survive?

It seems there is a healthy market today for both e-readers and tablets. In fact, ownership of e-readers is growing faster. "A new Pew report shows that the number of U.S. adults who own a dedicated e-reader (like a Kindle or Nook) has doubled since November 2010, to 12 percent... Pew found that 8 percent of adults own a tablet, compared to 5 percent in November 2010." I think that part of the reason for the e-reader faster growth is the significantly lower price point. And while the e-reader has some limitations, it is starting to become more web friendly. At the same time, it has a better screen for reading, lighter and easier to carry, and for it's primary use, does exactly what it needs to do.

In my own household there is a desire for both a tablet and e-reader. As a commuter, the ease of transporting a reader verse a heavy book is the primary appeal. And with an iPhone in her pocket, she will have the world at her fingertips.

Certainly at some point in the near future, there will be a convergence of these two products. The tablet will get lighter and thinner. It will switch from a rich graphical display to an easy to read print face (especially when bright sun is present), and may be flexible enough to perhaps even be rolled up for transport in a pocket. But until then, the e-reader of today has a great growth opportunity ahead of it.

Foursquare Finds Financial Foothold

Foursquare has found investment interest as it receives $50 million in funding. "The company, which allows users to announce their presence at an ever-growing number of bars, restaurants, offices, arenas, and public spaces recently passed the 10 million user milestone, and just this week inked a deal with American Express to allow Foursquare users with AmEx cards the opportunity to take advantage of cash-back deals." And add me on Friday as one more member.

I went out to the movies, dinner, and the beach this weekend, and each time, I announced my location. And each time, I annoyed my wife as I did it and became fodder for conversation with my friends. Comments like, "so now the crooks know you aren't home" and simply "why?". I have to say I asked myself the same question. None of my three friends on Foursquare live that close to me or did I suspect they would be at any of the places I visited. And I wasn't about to look for other members from their picture, that may also be at the same establishments. And lastly, I have to say, I didn't like having my iPhone beep the location of my friends locations. So after a weekend, I am already considering deleting my app.

Perhaps all I really want is for the location I am visiting to know that I am there and to perhaps treat me with a discount, coupon, or other goodie as a sign of loyalty. As for bumping into friends at locations, I'd rather it be a surprise; otherwise, it starts to look like stalking.

Is it fun to be a "mayor" of a location; I'm not sure I will ever get to know. Perhaps I am missing something, but Foursquare seems more fun as my kids' outdoor recess game. I'd love to hear other opinions, let me know your thoughts.

VOD II: The Empire Strikes Back | InteractiveTV Today

A great article on the future of VOD. Enjoy!
VOD II: The Empire Strikes Back | InteractiveTV Today

Fourstep Partners With American Express

An ideal partnership, matching consumers and their shopping preferences with their preferred credit card company. An innovative way to facilitate the purchase process. "Foursquare users are accustomed to receiving awards in the form of coupons and digital merit badges. But more substantial deals like those being offered to American Express cardholders may bring Foursquare and other location-based services further into the mainstream." As consumers get closer and closer to managing purchases with their smartphone, this arrangement gets Amex one step closer to the process. And it further cements the relationship between retailer and purchase process with deals and coupons as the glue.

"To start, American Express will offer deals at Sports Authority and the clothing retailer H&M, along with a few restaurants in New York, like Union Square Cafe and the barbecue joint Blue Smoke. For example, shoppers who spend $75 at H&M will receive a $10 credit to their American Express accounts. Those who spend $50 at Sports Authority will get a $20 reward." I have been reluctant to join Foursquare, but these kinds of deals get me to reconsider. And I am betting that others will feel the same.

Rewarding loyalty has its rewards and both Amex and Foursquare should see this partnership paying healthy dividends. I look forward to seeing how this partnership can further evolve.

Viacom Sues Cablevision, While Time Warner Cable Suit On Hold

Just as word came out this morning that Viacom and Time Warner Cable had stopped their lawsuits to get close to a settlement deal, a new suit from Viacom against Cablevision has arose. "Viacom said Cablevision's April 2 launch of a computer application to allow streaming of television programs through a cable modem to iPad tablets violates its agreement to distribute Viacom programing only on cable TV systems."

Cablevision's response was "Cablevision's very popular Optimum App for iPad, which has been available to our customers for nearly three months, falls within our existing cable television licensing agreements with programmers – including Viacom. It is cable television service on the iPad, which functions as a television, and is delivered securely to our customers in the home on Cablevision's own proprietary network.” This came from Jim Maiella.

To me the key point is that the location of wireless viewing is within the home and thus covered by a cable agreement. It is true yet short sighted. What the cable subscriber really wants is viewership OUTSIDE the home. And that is why this app, as nice as it might be, is not enough. For Cablevision, Time Warner Cable, and other cable providers, deals must be negotiated with programmers like Viacom to authorize access anywhere for an authenticated viewer. Of course, consumers could just purchase a SLingbox.

Is Yahoo Gaga Over Hulu?

It seems there is some interest in purchasing Hulu, and the unofficial reports say that it is Yahoo. As a competitor to Google and You Tube, this acquisition might make sense, but is there enough reward to justify the cost? "The unsolicited offer has prompted Hulu’s board to consider its options, and the company is speaking to potential advisers, these people said. It may contact potential buyers, including other media companies and private equity firms that have wanted the chance to buy the service." For Hulu's owners, NBC, Fox, Disney and others, separating themselves from a platform company may enable them to better determine how best to distribute their content. It may also help their negotiations with cable partners and to assure themselves that they are getting the best license deals.

A sale seems to make sense as well as these content partners don't easily get along. As they compete for ratings and ad dollars, it is tougher to then turn around and cooperate for Hulu business. It also restricts opportunities for each content company to design their own unique leverage opportunities to marry online content with linear. And for NBC, who is also owned by Comcast, a sale would get NBC out of this very complicated relationship.

And perhaps Hulu needs a different owner, one that is more committed to it's success. "Hulu has lost two of its most vocal backers: Peter Chernin, formerly the News Corp.’s president, and Jeff Zucker, who left NBC Universal last fall. James Murdoch, who became News Corp.’s deputy chief operating officer in March, is among those who is much more skeptical about Hulu’s business prospects." A Hulu-Yahoo combination might yield more favorable results although the cost for content will undoubtedly rise. It's one thing to sell content to your own company, another when you have no restrictions.

So let's see how real this rumor of a sale really is. I for one would like to see it happen.

Dot Anything

Remember the good ole days when a 212 area code meant NYC, 215 meant Philly, and .com meant business web address. Well the proliferation of smart phones and websites means that there is a shortage and the we must continue to grow the numbers. "The new rules affect what the industry calls top-level domain names, the familiar dot-coms and dot-nets that end every Web address. Now, instead of having to use one of those existing forms, users will be able to end their addresses with the name of their company, such as dot-Ford, or their city, like dot-Berlin."

But with this growth comes the need for zoning and now it seems it is harder than ever to know where a phone number is generated from or where a website originates. Exciting , yet problematic. "The shift, however, could also cause anxiety and disputes among governments, companies and other entities in safeguarding their brands and identities in cyberspace. Those seeking religious or political names, for example, could lead to sensitive situations."

Nothing can stop the proliferation of addresses, but certainly governance can help to better manage it. It certainly may hurt squatters to websites who hope to force brands to pay for rights to their name. Yet I am confident that new opportunities will present themselves. And in cases when companies with the same name in different industries each want access to their domain name, challenges will arise as well. It is the start of a whole new internet and let the battles begin.

Another Hack Job

First Sony was hacked and now it's Sega's turn. "Almost all data for 1.29 million users was accessed -- usernames, real names, birth dates, passwords, and email addresses. But curiously, credit card and debit card information remains untouched, says Sega." It seems that hackers are going after all types of companies that are digitally storing users' personal information. Where once you had to be careful that your wallet wasn't stolen, now there seems little we can do to protect ourselves from identity theft, stolen bank and credit card info, and other personal information.

And yet, we seem to be calm about this, until of course we are personally affected and fighting to keep our hard earned monies and good name. Every security effort seems to only raise the stakes and interest higher by hackers intent to prove that they are the best. Whether for sport or for criminal gain, it seems unlikely that hacking will ever end. As long as we are "on the grid", we remain at risk.