Many of these new tech companies are just hyping themselves up so they can be bought out and the VC’s actually get fooled by it.

Yes Meebo is a great service but their is no revenue stream, the idea is not unique nor do they have any technological advantages. Users can just as easily use another site such as e-messenger just as anyone could start a e-messenger/meebo style service anyday.

I think you have exactly got the reason why Meebo will not work - schools and companies will block this website - simple.

What is the point of Meebo? Before IMs we had chat rooms that were webbased. The reason IMs came into existence is to give us the convenience of automatically alerting others of your webpresence and allowing you to chat with a cool little window. What Meebo is doing is putting IM back in the web-browser - something we always had in the form of chat rooms!

All the major IM vendors are busy adding cool new additions like better voice xmission and video. In this scenario, I can’t imagine why people will use Meebo.

I think the two prior commenters are missing the big picture. There is a general move to web-based versions of apps, just as there was move to webmail. Benefits are the same (anywhere access). And the impact on user experience is the same (worse performance than desktop).

I met with Seth about Meebo. While I decided to pass on this investment, I think a lot of VCs will be drawn to invest, and for good reasons. Seth is a smart guy in a hot space with a lot of traction. This is the early stage profile of some very big wins we have seen over the years, Skype being the latest. I passed it was because of personal bandwidth, not because of Meebo.

I think Meebo is definitely an interesting service, but I’m not sure I see how they plan to turn it into a business. If they plan to do contextual advertisting, that’s a huge no-no in my book.

Also, it seems the primary usage comes from users who need Meebo to bypass their workplace chat client prevention. The same problem they hoped to solve will no doubt be a major problem for them soon too - corporations will begin to block Meebo. Though Meebo will always have users who need it to access chat on the go, it seems their largest user base will most likely be blocked over time.

Also, where is the barrier to entry here? It’s using an already existing user base - why would a company acquire when it could build the same thing very cheaply?

Their idea is not unique, but then again, neither is the facebook or several of the other web 2.0 properties out there. Their value comes from the fact they have a well implemented product, and a substantial community - 250k logins a day is quite impressive. Combine the two and, like the facebook, I don’t see why you can’t become profitable. Hopefully they won’t need to go as far as showing advertisements based on conversation text, but certainly there are similar monetization ideas they can experiment with.

What im saying is its not new idea , how long has e-messenger been around . Theres webmessenger.msn (MSN’s webbased messenger).

Anyone can copy it as there is no proprietary technology.

Ive used e-messenger and meebo over the past week because my university has not installed messenger type programs on the network and does not give students install permissions either. But having used the webbased alternatives I still prefer to use normal installed messenger as they feel better, look better, more features etc.

If my uni really wanted they could block the e-messenger or meebo etc website and access would be stopped.

From an investor point of view My money would be better spent ( assuming I want to get involved in this market) in launching my own as this would be cheaper and more profitable. The meebo website is done with simple PHP.

I’ll have to agree with the first two commentors. I use Meebo at work but that is only because my client’s firewall blocks the AIM server. As soon as the IT department finds out about Meebo I am sure they will block it too. Sure I can use a proxy website to get to it but you can’t have a business model based on trying to work around company firewalls. Meebo doesn’t really provide any added functionality nor does it provide better performance.

Technically Meebo has done some great things. The method in which they have emulated adding state to the HTTP protocol is rather intriguing. Although, as you can see from their blog it has substantially affected their server load.

In the end I don’t think Meebo, as it stands, will go very far. I think there is certainly potentional for the technologies used in Meebo to make a great product. I leave it it up to the developers to add compelling features that are only availabe on Meebo. Maybe a searchable index of all my messages? Something has to be added before its a killer web app. Right now its just the first of its kind, there are more sure to follow.

Meebo is also getting a lot of attention from librarians. IM is an increasingly popular way for libraries to extend their services to wider audiences. Being web-based, libraries don’t have to worry about downloading software onto a bunch of terminals - a desktop icon or a link from an “Ask-a-Librarian” page will suffice. If institutions like public libraries are blocking Meebo, it might not be for very long.

Second comment of the day, why not? Meebo is an AWESOME product. When going inbetween locations or not being on one of my own machines, and in a pickle, Meebo is a savior. We use AIM to communicate internally on the business side, but devs have been using Yahoo!. When I needed to talk to both of the two teams at a location without the software installed, Meebo was there. Meebo is also very fast, and pretty reliable. It crashed every now and then, but thats expected. I believe the statistics, it really solves a problem, something a lot of businesses can often forget to do. With the shift towards web-based apps, this is my pick for instant messaging.

-JLB

Meebo is a great alernative for people employed at companies that block the installation and download of IM clients. This only will work as long as their IT staff does not know of Meebo being an altenative on the market. It will be some time…

Michael, you have a small typo in your link to e-messenger. It points to

htto://www.e-messenger.net

There is actually a very viable business model for Meebo. It is not what they are currently doing though. What they are currently doing not sustainable in the long run, because of the reasons mentioned above. (Technology is easy to imitate, companies will block Meebo site, there is no switching costs for users etc)

The business model I foresee for Meebo is to develop a corporate version of it. Let’s say I work for TechCrunch publications, and TechCrunch outsourced all IM system to Meebo. I login to my company IM system via techcrunch.meebo.com.
Since it is web based system, companies do Not have to maintain and monitor such system (both desktop/laptops and servers, it is easier on the IT departments. Basically, I can sell this as a service to pretty much all the companies around the world. (1$/year/user type model) and maintain the consumer site for brand building.

Cheers,
SG

Thanks MV - fixed it.

Meewhat??

We were lucky enough to have Seth at a recent event. He described Meebo to audience of (mainly) nonprofit folks. Like the person pointing to the library uses above, it became clear that Meebo could be a terrific boon for nonprofits. It could be IM to public access computers; could allow nonprofit staff to communicate with their constituents (including via SMS support offered by AOL, for example) easily and with a lightweight application.

Well just in case anyone is wondering, at my school we use proxy technology from N2H2 known as Bess. I can access Meebo, gmail, hotmail, etc., simply by using https:// as opposed to http:// at the beginning of the URL. Hopefully this will help somebody out in the future.

The problem is that if theyw ant to do hosting, companies want thier own protocol to use internally alongside extrenal support with AIM, ICQ, MSN, etc.

The key problem appears now is that they do not have thier own back end, they rely on open source tools, and they do not have agreements with the major providers like AIM, MSN, Yahoo!

There are a LOT of challenges ahead for them.

The model i would go after would be to create wireless versions, sell those, create tools around IM to allow consumers to forward IM, logging, compliance, bots, etc.

No one will pay for IM, atleast on the consumer side. For businesses it is a different story, they are willing to pay but there are problems that i listed above about them not having thier own back end, encryption, agreements with providers, support for AD and LDAP, compliance, etc.

I am sure there is a lot that they want to do that we all have no idea about and should not know so we should give them the benifit of the doubt on this one.

Time will tell, getting a major VC like sequoria, either means they have something really big we dont know about, they have some stellar ideas to capitalize on their current base or they are buying on hype and hoping for a big return via M&A or an Acquisition.

thats my 2 cents

there is something more substantial up there sleeve otherwise just mere meebo is no great an idea…it just takes little doing to create such site to punch the hole in the employers rules and regulation book.

my school is so lame, they blocked meebo and e-messenger…does anyone know any other alternatives…i really need this..im a boarder and i cant go and talk to anyone without msn…pleaase…this is really urgant…they’re ruining our lives..em x

I use http://www.yonoy.com e-mail to MSN gateway because my company blocks meebo and i just have an e-mail account…

hi…

i really impressed with meebo!…bcoz our lab has firewall which wont allow to install messenger!

help me!!!!!!! i really need 2 use a program such as emessenger or meebo which i hav used before until my stupid school bloked them nw i am looking for either a way around the firewall or another program similar.i tried yonoy.com but that is also blocked plz help…

my f*ckin high school blocked meebo and we can’t have AIM, any solutions? E-messenger is blocked, me and everyone else have tried https, IP address, .com, .net, .org, .co.uk, v2.meebo, v3, v4, v5, and even lower to v1. HELP!!!!

(quote)my f*ckin high school blocked meebo and we can’t have AIM, any solutions? E-messenger is blocked, me and everyone else have tried https, IP address, .com, .net, .org, .co.uk, v2.meebo, v3, v4, v5, and even lower to v1. HELP!!!! (/quote)

Try http://www.meebo.biz or http://www.meebo.us

I’ve read in a blog that the owner of http://www.e-messenger.us is cosidering diverting his traffic to meebo because he likes it better.

quick question…. are there any other websites like meebo where i can access my ym and im without downloading anything….. were using it here in the office and i think it will be block in a couple of days. I need to find another site that does the same. Pleas email me with the answer tnx… austin_austria@yahoo.com

everyone here is so stupid. if you haven’t realized “http://www.meebo.com” has been blocked like five years ago. you are all retards wondering why all meebo sites are blocked. someone find a meebo site that doesn’t say ‘meebo’ in its hyperlink. and for once, DON’T GET CAUGHT. you all wonder why its blocked, well its your fault for telling your stupid little friends and having them get blocked. god aren’t you even on your own side? keep your effing mouths shut for once and it won’t get blocked.

heres a meebo site that was blocked for my school, but might work for you guys

http://www.verticalimits.uni.cc/

good luck,
evie

hey thanks evie for the vertical limits, on my work they blocked all the meebo websites, but the vertical http://www.verticalimits.uni.cc/limits worked great
thanks again

can some one give me some ip addys for meebo cous our skool has blocked all th ones we know plz send to abrey_ni@student.kings.edu.au

can some one give me some ip address for meebo couse my skool bloked all the ones i know

i need a meebo site but the school has blocked all of them! and nothing works! im not a real computer person and i dont know anything about computers but i do know that i need hotmail so plz can you send to me! thanx!

soz i forgot my e-mail is 3422@cggs.act.edu.au

why have you blocked meebo

My schools blocked meebo! Help mee…. Please email all the sites like this to me.
Thanks!

Meebo.com is now blocked and i need some kind of instant messaging website or something to get on in school. ive tried pretty much anything and if anyone has any suggestions please email me. beachgrl7291@aol.com

same sam! plz c’mon guys!!!!!! plz plz plz!!!!!

dont worri i got 1!

hey! Any other suggested websites? Vertical is now blocked also… post here!

whats the vertical website??

http://www.verticalimits.uni.cc/limits

Can anyone give the alternative site of (www.guwahati4u.com) through which i can chat because it is blocked in our college.If someone knows please mail the website at (coolsam1061@sify.com).I will bw really thankful..

If nothing works try this:

http://www.scipo.com
http://www.scipo.net
http://www.scipo.us
http://www.scipo.co.uk
http://www.scipo.org
http://www.scipo.info
http://www.scipo.eu

or www56.scipo.com
www39.scipo.net
www(any number).scipo.com

or http://www.blog.scipo.com
http://www.rosy.scipo.net
http://www.(anything).scipo.com or net

They all go to meebo .

am not able to use meebo.
I want to access yahoo and hotmail mails.Can you gibe an alternative site through i can check my mails.

I want it urgently.

Thx alot for the site evie works great, but ya yall get your friends to find there own way in dont go tellin every one and there dog… or we all get screwed over
Later

Hi everybody.. I work in an office. The admin of office is so lame that he has disabled gmail and meebo also. Even verticalimits.uni.cc is also blocked. Can ne body tell me some alternative. My email add is g_ankush@rediffmail.com

Here guys use this…..
https://w8.db-systems.nl/dmirror/http/www10.meebo.com/
This one kinda works intermittently.
https://w8.coteyr.net/dmirror/http/www10.meebo.com/

If you guys come across anymore please do let me know.

hi Dey,
i could get to meebo with those.. but for some strange reason couldnt log on msn… o.O

anything i’m doing wrong?..

Hi,
could any one tell how to access the gmail? It is getting blocked by websense even if I try with https\\.
please help out.

help me mi skool has bloked all the meebo sites r geting bloked help me mi email is abrey_ni@stident.kings.edu.au

Meebo has been disabled vertical no longer works and the last one that was added scipo is not working either , the newer version https\\. are not working they take for ever and have disabled them it asks for authenticity need help getting bk on meebo ASAP I am going crazy here @ work
Lyn C.

The network connections block us from using Meebo or any other link wee have on this page do we have something to use ??? PLEASE HELP US !!!!!!! :’(
I am DESPERATE