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Locking up your users' data ensures that there is an increased cost associated with migrating to a new social network. They're just protecting their share of t

by ed 19y ago

Locking up your users' data ensures that there is an increased cost associated with migrating to a new social network. They're just protecting their share of the market.

nickb 19y ago
This type of 'walled garden' strategy has been disastrous for so many companies. Hope they change their mind.
- ed 19y ago
  I guess I beg to differ. I can think of many examples where providing proprietary services for locked-in users has been a primary source of competitive advantage -- consider why Microsoft fights so fiercely to maintain a high market share for a product which generates no direct income (IE). It's a little counter intuitive at first, but they're ensuring control of the market. That's a powerful thing. Referring to facebook as a "Walled garden" brings to mind AOL's demise, but just because they may appear to be similar tactics the companies aren't doomed to suffer the same fate. AOL failed for a number of reasons, the largest of which was a failure to adapt to the needs of the market. Facebook appears to be a more nimble company and I would be surprised if it had similar problems.
  - SwellJoe 19y ago
    "AOL failed for a number of reasons, the largest of which was a failure to adapt to the needs of the market. Facebook appears to be a more nimble company and I would be surprised if it had similar problems." You reckon AOL became the largest ISP by "failure to adapt"? No...the failure to adapt came much later. They ruled for a long time. Facebook is barely a wee lad in comparison. If it gets a run as top dog for as long as AOL then Zuckerberg should count his lucky stars.
bootload 19y ago
"... Locking up your users' data ensures that there is an increased cost associated with migrating to a new social network. ..." means your living in a roach motel. great talk by Simon Phipps, 'The Zen of Free', 18m, 8.3Mb, 2005OCT18 ~ http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail866.html http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail866.html explaining why restricting communities is poisonous. No roach motels for me.

by ed 19y ago

Locking up your users' data ensures that there is an increased cost associated with migrating to a new social network. They're just protecting their share of the market.

nickb 19y ago

This type of 'walled garden' strategy has been disastrous for so many companies. Hope they change their mind.

ed 19y ago
I guess I beg to differ. I can think of many examples where providing proprietary services for locked-in users has been a primary source of competitive advantage -- consider why Microsoft fights so fiercely to maintain a high market share for a product which generates no direct income (IE). It's a little counter intuitive at first, but they're ensuring control of the market. That's a powerful thing. Referring to facebook as a "Walled garden" brings to mind AOL's demise, but just because they may appear to be similar tactics the companies aren't doomed to suffer the same fate. AOL failed for a number of reasons, the largest of which was a failure to adapt to the needs of the market. Facebook appears to be a more nimble company and I would be surprised if it had similar problems.
- SwellJoe 19y ago
  "AOL failed for a number of reasons, the largest of which was a failure to adapt to the needs of the market. Facebook appears to be a more nimble company and I would be surprised if it had similar problems." You reckon AOL became the largest ISP by "failure to adapt"? No...the failure to adapt came much later. They ruled for a long time. Facebook is barely a wee lad in comparison. If it gets a run as top dog for as long as AOL then Zuckerberg should count his lucky stars.

bootload 19y ago

"... Locking up your users' data ensures that there is an increased cost associated with migrating to a new social network. ..." means your living in a roach motel. great talk by Simon Phipps, 'The Zen of Free', 18m, 8.3Mb, 2005OCT18 ~ http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail866.html http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail866.html explaining why restricting communities is poisonous. No roach motels for me.