Has it happened that the 140-character limit on Twitter is not enough to express what you want to say, or you feel overwhelmed by idiotic content on Facebook, and you are seeking an alternative that combines what you like on each of these networks? If you tweet on Twitter, but have not yet given up on Facebook and Instagram, you may soon encounter a new and requited love, and it too has an Israeli aspect.
The new service is called Pheed, and reports on the Internet say that it is already the next big thing among celebrities, some of whom are known to be addicted tweeters. Miley Cyrus is there, Paris Hilton is addicted, and thousands of others find in Pheed what they are looking for. Pheed's big advantage is that makes possible what Twitter offers, and, like Facebook, it also allows the sharing of a range of content - pictures, audio, video, and text (up to 420 characters, triple Twitter's 140-character limit).
According to its developers, Pheed was created to solve problems on current social networks - the lack of a successful business model, and an incentive for users who want to create quality content. In other words, power is transferred to the users, who have to prove their ability to create quality content that other users are prepared to pay for. This is no easy task, if you ask us.
Where is the money, you ask?
Those who wish to, celebrities, artists, or simply megalomaniacs with a business sense, can restrict some of their content that they upload to friends and subscribers for a fee ranging from $1.99 to $34.99. Pheed takes 50% fee on the proceeds. What does this give? First and foremost, money, but no less important, content should be better because of the financial filter.
Let us not forget the Israeli angle. Pheed founder and CEO is Oded Kobo, and if the name sounds familiar, it is because he is the son of Bebo Kobo. In other words, he is the stepson of Miri Bohadana, a co-founder of Chinese social network Koolanoo Group Internet Media Ltd. That is already worth a tweet, status, or both.
Is Pheed really the next big thing? Will users who have become used to the sea of content on Facebook pay for a song by Miley Cyrus (at a special price for friends only)? Time will tell, but let us be skeptical.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 22, 2012
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2012