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userplane posts

Filed under: Features, Web services

Userplane CEO Michael Jones - Download Squad interview

Michael Jones, Userplane CEOWe reported earlier today that Userplane, a company that makes web-based video, audio, and text chat software is being acquired by AOL, Download Squad's own parent company. It's an interesting move for both Userplane and AOL, and Userplane CEO Michael Jones was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.

Download Squad: Can you tell me a bit about how Userplane got started and what it does?

Michael Jones: I have posted a brief history of Userplane at dandelife.com/stories/list/userplane.

Basically, 3 partners – Michael Jones (business), Javier Hall (design), Nate Thelen (technology) who had worked together on my former company came together and formed Userplane. We worked on custom development projects for a year or so – then began embarking on our own product line targeted at online communications – specifically IM. As we grew, and our products' success began – we expanded our product line, our staff, and began marketing our applications to any and all online communities. We were fortunate in our timing, and we have built a strong network of users both on the private label / integrated side and on our free instant-install product line.

What we do specifically is provide presence, IM and chat communication solutions to online communities. You can review a bit on our products at www.userplane.com – but we provide solutions both for individuals (our instant-install products) and full fledged communities (integrated products).


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Filed under: Business, Internet, Utilities, Web services, P2P, Social Software

Userplane is now part of AOL

userplane bought by aolAOL has announced that they have acquired Userplane, a company that builds communication software for online communities. Userplane applications are primarily developed in Flash, using the Flash Communication server. This makes it extremely easy for developers to plug it into their websites.

The Userplane suite of software includes:
  • Webchat - a multi-user Flash-based chat interface, that can be easily plugged into any website
  • Webmessenger - a Flash text, voice, and video instant messaging application
  • Webrecorder - a Flash-based audio and video recording app for recording and playing audio and video messages
  • Sitesearch - a user search engine
  • Presence - live user tracking, enabling you to see who is on your site right now.
The best part about Userplane's software is that there is no installation needed. It fits extremely easy into existing websites. It should be really interesting to see how AOL plans to align and integrate these tools into community sites, and how they will get these products in the market more. Userplane is currently used on Friendster, Date.com, and MySpace, and many others.

Update: Read Download Squad's exclusive interview with Userplane CEO Michael Jones.

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