Rumor Alert: AOL to attempt MySpace assault

by Jordan Running Apr 19th 2006

Ooh, here's some juicy, unsubstantiated buzz: According to Dave Winer, AOL (this blogger's employer) is planning a new service that will challenge MySpace "head on." The announcement will allegedly be made in two weeks.

[Via my boss Jason Calacanis, who neither confirms nor denies, but is probably tenting his fingers right now.]

Update: Down in the comments we've got comfirmation from Armughan Javaid, Program Manager in AOL Technologies' Open Services group. He says "it will be kick-ass!"

Tags: aol, myspace, networking, rumor, rumoralert

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Geoff said 7:07PM on 4-19-2006

As long as they hire better programmers and designers than MySpace did and if it's open to non-AOL members, then I'd switch in a second.

Trekker said 9:12PM on 4-19-2006

Yes it will be open for non-members and it will be kick-ass! Stay tuned.
Trekker

Matt said 10:45AM on 4-20-2006

Well, I htink people will probably stick with myspace/facebook for the same reason people stuck with AIM despite ICQ, MSN, etc being technically superior: Everybody's already using it.

On the other hand, Myspace is pretty horrible... always slow and crashing. By contrast, Facebook (altho probably less popular) is a speed demon. Buy more damn servers!! You can afford it!!

Prime said 1:41PM on 4-20-2006

Matt where have you been? AOL bought ICQ in 1998 and they have shared the infrastructure since then.

Dulles, VA, June 8, 1998 - Significantly advancing its multiple-brand strategy, America Online, Inc. [NYSE: AOL] today announced that it has acquired Mirabilis Ltd, an Israel-based company which has used its ICQ instant communications and chat technology to rapidly build a Web-based community of more than 12 million registered users worldwide.

Trekker said 2:10PM on 4-20-2006

All, just to point out, the original "rumor" was carried by BusinessWeek back in January: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_05/b3969023.htm

Vorobushek said 6:12PM on 4-20-2006

A MySpace killer?
I hope so. MySpace has some huge limitations comparing whats on MY desk, and I am pretty sure that even the new AOL MySpace Killer will be less than what I invented. :-)
Not Joking, days before the dot-com crash in 2000 we aquired 6.000.000 USD for a project that you can see as a kind of Myspace avant la lettre.... Only the dot-com crash killed our project :-(
In the past 5-6 years I developped the idea further and have developped a project that is a REAL killer since it goes far far far beyond what MySpace does, and.... its a dream, a gorgeous wet dream for marketers WITHOUT ANNOYING the members :-) My project solves problems, add t-o-t-a-l new features..... and is attractive to everyone and everything.
The only problem is on this moment funding. As always.
But here in tiny Belgium the possibilities are a bit smaller, but I try to find new investors.
I hope AOL (and others) have not invented the same as I did :-))). There is still hope.....

Rob said 6:45PM on 4-20-2006

The inertia of 70-million MySpace accounts means that AOL's MySpace Killer has a lot of work to do.

It's going to have to be so much better, easier, and buzz-ier than MySlow before it'll make so much as a dent in the numbers.

Shawn Carnell said 10:06PM on 4-20-2006

http://ted.aol.com/index.php?id=167

BBaxter said 12:23PM on 4-21-2006

Vorobushek...what did you invent?

Peter Durkson said 8:39PM on 5-10-2006

I'm interested in contacting VOROBUSHEK about his needs.

Please contact; peter@huladogfashions.com

ALOHA

vorobushek said 12:30PM on 10-11-2008

Peter,

This week I'll email you.....
Ok, it's 885 days or so after your post..... :-)

Vorobushek

Peter Durkson said 8:42PM on 5-10-2006

How do I contact VOROBUSHEK?

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