Meebo?
Finally someone started to hack something for mobile Instant Messaging. I know there are mobile clients for smartphones that connect to AOL, for example, but I've been missing the browser equivalent of Trillian for some time. For those that don't know Trillian, it's an IM client that can connect to virtually any IM server in parallel (and yes, it's also the name of the girl in the Hitchhiker). I use it for Yahoo, MSN, AOL, ICQ, and IRC, the five networks supported out of the box. So, instead of having 5 separate IM trackers on my screen, I have just one, with all networks living happily side-by-side.
Now, the downside of Trillian is that it requires my PC to run it. If I am using someone else's PC or get Internet access in some Cafe, I'm out of luck. No more, thanks to Meebo. Those three guys (actually, 1 guy, 2 gals) from Stanford brought the Trillian idea to the browser, by using some clever Ajax coding. Cool stuff.
I just wonder what Meebo means. Maybe it's another typo taking a life of its own, kinda like Google, which was supposed to be named Gogol. Anyway, I'll be able to chat now from airport lounges and every other place that runs a browser.
1 Comments:
I bet Meebo will fail! What is your bet?
Why? Can Meebo meet the following success factors?
Here are my questions and doubts for each of these:
> “If you are building a Web startup with the intention of flipping it
> to one of the majors, only three things matter;
> - technology/IP,
> - users
> - the quality of your technical team,”
1 what IP do they have? can someone just own an IP on something so simple? a
webbased IM is so easy to make…
2 users? how many real users do they have? people are addicted to MSN,
AIM, etc.
If meebo dies one day to another, how many people will actually look for a replacement of that one instead of going back to MSN?
3 technical team? 2 people? does that convince everyone…? It’s fine with me, I’ve seen many coders, but I am not sure that can convince easily
against the power of big groups.
> “If the company has market leadership in a new product space or market segment than the valuation goes up significantly,”
market leadership? talk to me more about it. What type of leadership do they have? They’re not replacing the IM, they don’t have the technology of the IM, they can be stopped anytime by a server that wouldn’t allow them to connect,
then can be sued anytime by people who don’t understand they’re sending their
password to meebo server… (it’s not written is it?)
5.how much of the market do they “own” really?
> “Meebo has essentially created a persistent connection/relationship
> with their users.”
who said that?
> “why go with a zero-revenue model that’s going to be sold for $50 million tops when you could pick a business model with the potential to generate some really, really serious cash?”
sure, it could generate cash. If it does, MSN, AIM, etc, have no difficuly in matching this offer, or to prevent meebo from making any money. Remember that meebo revenues depend on the good will of MSN AIM, etc who still haven’t
prevented meebo from connecting onto their server.
What is their plan B if MSN/AIM block all connections?
Thus, my bet that meebo cannot succeed! If you like to leave a note: www.jeikei.com
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