Social Networking

Social networking's next phase includes Cisco
Brad Stone, The New York Times March 5, 2007
Retrieved from CNET Tech News
http://news.com.com/Social+networkings+next+phase+includes+Cisco/2100-1032_3-6164226.html?tag=nefd.top

I found this article on CNET News that announces Cisco Systems purchase of the technology assets of Tribe.net, a relatively obscure social-networking site. This is an unusual move for Cisco, who primarily makes networking equipment for large companies. Cisco plan is to use its newly acquired technology to help large corporate clients create services resembling MySpace or YouTube to bring their customers together online. This move be indicates a shift in the way company thinks about social networks; many now say that social networks will soon be as ubiquitous as regular Web sites. Many companies and individuals are aiming to create tools to let ordinary people, large companies and even presidential candidates create social network sites tailored for their own customers, friends, fans and employees. The creators believe that the new social networking sites will give people more flexibility than earlier sites such as MySpace or FaceBook. The new sites will allow people to create their own communities on whatever they want from CSI to a particular political candidate to chocolate cake. On company, Ning, is positioning itself as a one-stop shop for creating social networks. Some critics question whether Cisco will be successful in creating its social networks. Critics say that the biggest challenges facing these new social networking sites are that people maybe reluctant to join new social networks because of these sites have few members and also, people may not want to enter their information over and over when they join new online communities. However, some companies have come up with a solution to this problem: OpenID, which would let users sign on and easily transfer profile information among social sites.

Personally I do not belong to any social networking sites but I think that Cisco maybe making a very smart move. Many companies believe that these new social networks are the way of the future and if Cisco creates this product they may end up being very successful because they would be producing a product that consumers want but that is not very available. This product could position Cisco positively in the mind of the consumer as a company that takes a proactive approach to the environment.