web 2.0
There are lots of conversations around web 2.0. Some people are very skeptical while some are excited about it. There are many startups in the web 2.0 movement:
zimbra.com, heyletsgo.com, meebo.com, writerly.com, Kiko.com, redit.com, etc. Each of them is cool, exciting, while there is no apparent business model looking from the outside. The obvious question is: are we seeing another wave of bubble startups just like in the late 1990s? Is this another bubble?
I am personally excited about web 2.0. I think it is something fundamental and it creates tremendous opportunities. Here are the top five reasons that I believe web 2.0 is fundamental and tremendous:
1. Web’s the deep social and culture impact
Until the last few years, the web’s impact on culture and social life didn’t become visible. Social networking added another dimension to our social interaction, a basic part of our life as human beings. Look at the success of wikipedia, linkedIn, myspace, del.icio.us, and look at blogging and podcast. Now we have an entire generation grew up on the web that take the web for granted just like how the old generation take electricity for granted! This impact is fundamental – because it is beyond technology, it is deep into our social and culture perspectives.
2. Democratization and Open source movement
The web changes a lot of industries – the software industry being the obvious candidate that is being changed most. Even Microsoft is re-thinking of its business model with its Windows Live initiative – how about you?
3. Advertisement as a business model
Google has done it and proved it. Microsoft noticed it now as evident from Ray Ozzie and Bill Gates’ memo, and the Windows Live initiative.
4. Newer technologies (Rich Internet Application, Ajax)
These are the technologies that would enable us to overcome the barrier of the limitations of the web, enabling web’s deeper penetration into the business and consumer world. For example, software-as-a-service needs these technologies desperately.
5. Software as a service
Salesforce.com is a success. Google is a success. Delivering software as a service, either to business or to consumer, is proven to be working well commercially.
Though I don’t necessarily believe all of the above mentioned startups are going to be successful, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that significant shifts like the above five breed opportunities, significant opportunities.
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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