SMSGupshup is a twitter like service in India, except that it is entirely supported by mobile platforms. “Gupshup’ is a hindi term for “chitchat”. SMSGupshup allows its members to exchange group messages from their mobile phones. The members do not need to go to web to open an account or participate in conversations. Since it’s launch in April 2007, the service has seen a phenomenal growth in terms of subscribers. In October 2008, the service had 12 million users and about 500 thousand communities. Last month, Michael Arrington on TechCrunch reported that the service has been adopted by 20 million users and has generated about $150,000 per month in revenue. Arrington interviewed Beerud Sheth, the founder of SMSGupshup who said that about 400 million text messages per month are exchanged by SMSGupshup users. The revenue earned by the service is through in-text advertising added four months ago.

Anand Rajaraman has a nice comparison of SMSGupshup with Twitter on his blog.

If you have used the service let me know what your experience has been. If you have any statistics related to its user profile, let me know. I will appreciate it.

An Australian mom has launched a social networking website for kids aged 8 – 12 years old. On realizing that she wanted a safe social networking website for her daughters aged 7 and 9 years old, she came up with the idea and contracted a Brisbane technology company to design the website. The website membership is free for first month, after which there is a membership fee.

Upon joining, the kids can choose one of the 10 native Australian animals as their avatar and one of the five houses as their residence. They start with 100 “ekidna gold nuggets” which they can use to dress up their avatars and decorate their houses. The kids have to maintain their own gardens and can trade-in their plants for in-game cash. It appears that kids can learn something about managing finances!!!

The built-in chats are monitored for foul languages and the safety feature includes parents entering a password everytime the child makes a new friend and no one can send out links. Also there is no advertising.

Sounds interesting and safe computer fun for kids!!!

Here are the links for the eKidnaworld.com and a detailed article about the website.

I think Twitter is like speed dating.

You add people because you find something interesting about them and this could be what they mention in a simple sentence near their twitter handle. Then you get to know them through 140 characters. You exchange 140 character messages and then decide if you want to continue to know them on a longer basis.

Just 140 characters are enough and its relatively easy to follow or unfollow. No hard feelings

Compared to other social media networking sites, its relatively low involvement and less time investment. If you want people to know more about you or if you want to know more about them, you need to direct them or follow them outside of twitterverse.

Twitter is almost like scratching the surface, and if you spot Gold!!! go after it or else part ways and you don’t even need 140 characters for that!!!

ITWire reports that Reliance India and MOKO.mobi launch mobile social networking for 61.3 million Reliance mobile customers.

International Herald Tribune reported that Virgin Mobile along with Tata Teleservices Ltd. launched new services for mobile phone owners targeting Indian youth in March 2008. The services included music, entertainment and news on India’s film industry, sports and stock markets.

 The third session I attended in “Preparing for Employment in a Workplace Conference” was on “how to manage your online image and jobe search.” Here is a synopsis from the presentation:

1.    Be visible online – Identify some popular social networking sites – to get started try Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.

2.    Identify possible ways to use social networking sites – for e.g. network on linkedin and Facebook; check out job listings on linkedin; display your work on – blog, youtube, flickr, personal website, slideshare; read and learn about what others are writing about your field.

3.    Positive ways of using your online profile for job search

a.    Network with classmates, people on campus, people with similar interests, potential employers and renew old friendships and alumni.

b.    Post your resume, build online portfolios, create personal websites, and write a blog.

4.    Managing your online profile -

a.    Clean up your online image – do a self-audit on your online profile.

b.    Avoid posting everything about yourself – because hitting the delete button doesn’t mean the information is gone.

c.    Create an action plan to improve your online image.

d.    Avoid posting sensitive information about yourself such as your political affiliations which may lead to discrimination.

5.    Learn how employers use social networking sites in recruitment

a.    Background check – employers can gain access if your online profile is public, through alumni, college interns, fan pages you subscribe to; government organizations can gain access using Patriot Act; and outside companies using Fair Credit Reporting Act.

b.    What employers may learn about you –                                              

 i.    Your judgment in posting materials about yourself on your online profile.

                                               ii.    Whether you allow all your information to be public?

                                              iii.    Is there something about your lifestyle that may be questionable?

I found the above points to be very useful. Let me know if you have more, I would be happy to include them in my post.

The Comscore report on Indian Social networking revealed three important findings -

1. Over 19 millions Indians are visiting social networking sites showing an increase of 51% from previous year.

2. Global social networking sites such as Orkut, Facebook, hi5, LinkedIn are more popular among Indians and have shown an increase in the number of visits.

3. The top four social networking sites used by Indian internet users are -

• Orkut – 12.8 million visitors (up 81% from last year)
• Facebook -  4 million visitors (up 150% from last year)
• Bharatstudent.com – 3.3 million visitors (up 88% from last year)
• hi5 – 2 million visitors (up 182% from last year)

It may be important to note that the data for this analysis excludes site visitations from public cybercafes and mobile phones or PDAs.

The report noted that a social networking website with a global brand positioning is more likely to succeed in India. I think this points out to an interesting trend that Indians are using online social networking to maintain contacts with non-resident Indian friends and being a part of global culture. In my interviews too with young people in India I found that most of them view new communication technologies such as Internet and mobile phones as having globalizing potential. The “value” that young people in India seek from engaging in online social networking is “forming and maintaining long – distance friendships.”

On the day of Obama Inauguration, I met Angela Siefer. Both of us were dropped mid-way by the metro bus which was supposed to carry us to the Greenbelt Metro Station. It was cold and I was glad to have some company. While talking to Angela, I learnt that she is a private consultant helping small and medium sized businesses learn how to effectively use social networking tools. I found it really interesting to learn about her work. Angela also has a blog and is on twitter.

Facebook has emerged as one of the most engaging social networking online platforms for me. I have been a member of Facebook since a long time, however, it was only in March 2008 that I started using Facebook seriously to expand my social network. Within this past year, my social network has grown considerably – I am connected with over 218 friends on Facebook. My social network on Facebook includes friends I have known in real life – my school, college and university friends, friends I have known socially, members of my extended family, my co-workers and my Professors. However, my network on Facebook also includes people who have approached me on Facebook for friendship – some I have met but there are a few who I have never met. I also have some requests pending because at times I am not sure if I should add people I don’t know. So I am sending messages to people who approach me for friendship on facebook without an introduction. 

Until now, I have mostly used Facebook for uploading fotos and albums to share with family and friends. I am almost fotoblogging – changing my profile pic and activities pics almost every week. I am also updating my status messages regularly and sometimes I get interesting comments on my status messages. I have yet to start importing my blog posts on Facebook which I am planning to do shortly. So I haven’t really written a lot of notes on Facebook.

On Facebook, I have also added fanpages of various filmmakers, authors and political leaders who have made an impression on me. I have also become a member of various groups of different kinds, however, to acknowledge, although I am a member of various groups, I have rarely posted or commented on any of the group pages. As of now I have just been a spectator to various group activities.

Overall, I can say that I have found my Facebook experience very useful and interesting. I think the most value I have received from Facebook has been in terms of expanding my social network and maintaining my social network of friends, family, and co-workers. Now that I am using Facebook for social networking quite successfully, I am wondering what other ways there are to enhance my Facebook experience. Your suggestions and ideas are welcome!!!