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."

Ouch!

[atrader42]

I can't exactly picture joining a service entitled "Wallop", no matter how many friends I have on there...it sounds pretty painful!
"Hey Joe! I just walloped you!"
"Ow! Screw you!"

$ocial network

[Dargoth_Rejuv]

What a useless idea. Lets take someone else's good idea, and make people pay all sorts of fees to make it look worth a damn! Sounds like an excellent idea to me, where do I sign up?

Who do you want to meet today?

[Phantom of the Opera]

Hi, you seem to be writing a personal add. I can help. Your writing is too cornball.
  -MS Romeo

Re:A slice of M$, a la mode

[ackthpt]

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.

You dummy! Can't you see it's exclusive! That's one of the world's best moustraps. Say something is exclusive and people will fall all over themselves (some more casually than others) to get at it.

Of course, this strategy only works a few times in brighter people. But I'm sure there's enough people in the world who would fall for the 'exclusive' bit to keep Wallop in the black.

MS Driven Technology... but NOT ASPX

[EssTiDee]

If anyone has browsed the site a bit (or can still, if it's not already /.'ed for now) -- I especially liked how the developer network page wants you to use Flash programming for sellable mods (as opposed to .NET applications) and the site itself is written using PHP (as opposed to .ASP / .ASPX)... Just my observations...

In a Microsoft social networking site...

[Anonymous Coward]

Clippy pops up and says...
"It looks like you are need some friends. Would you like some help with that?"

Re:Selling graphics...

[ackthpt]

Nothing for you to see here. Please move along.

Don't you see? It's exclusive and you are on the outside.

You want to be on the inside, don't you? Lotsa fun in there. Bet it's better than whatever's going on behind the green door. Wow! Too bad you don't have an invite! Gosh, what you're missing out on.

I always believed...

[Ruvim]

I remember it perfectly: an e-mail that I recieved several years ago about Gates giving out large sum of money to anybody who joins that chainletter... It's becoming true! Yes!

MSN-Emo Clippy

[Anonymous Coward]

It looks like you're trying to take a picture of yourself in the mirror. Would you like help with:

• Dying your hair black
• Applying mascara
• Looking sorrowful
• Scratching your wrists with a blunt knife

Re:Microsoft does not own this...

[Westech]

In that case it sounds like a well thought out and beautifully executed idea! Where do I sign up?

Re:A slice of M$, a la mode

[Pollardito]

after a thorough review of myspace i have determined that the people there don't really want attractive graphics, so i agree that this business model is not very sound

roffle

[SuperStretch]

This is going to be the "Zune" of the social network world. Once again MSFT, a few years too lame.. oops i mean late.