True Ventures backed Socialcast is launching adopting the freemium model for its FriendFeed-like collaboration and social network SaaS for businesses. A finalist for the 2009 Crunchies Award for “Best Bootstrapped Startup,” Socialcast is a communication tool businesses can use to incorporate social networking with real-time messaging to share knowledge across enterprises.
Socialcast’s software combines social bookmarking features, Twitter-like microblogging and FriendFeed-like streaming into one platform. And the software integrates with other social networks including Facebook, Twitter, and Del.icio.us. Socialcast can also import activity from your iPhone, Gmail account and YouTube. The best part is that all of this activity is private, making Socialcast a competitive program for real-time, internal communication within businesses.
The new version of Socialcast will become even more like FriendFeed, including real-time activity streams complete with real-time track functionality that allows user’s to stay updated on subjects of interest, groups, projects, keywords, etc. Socialcast will also be rolling out an Adobe AIR desktop app, as well as the in-browser software. While the app is useful, we’ve complained in the past about the strange quirks and bugs in Adobe AIR.
The software, which used to be $1 per user per month, will now be completely free for an unlimited amount of users but businesses can choose to add paid features to Socialcast. This includes the ability to see analytics and mine data from a group’s network, providing a tag cloud and stats on which employees communicate most and least often.
Another premium feature is a consultancy service provided by Socialcast on how to help employees adopt and deploy the technology (which doesn’t seem that difficult so this may not be worth paying for). For a extra fee, users can also choose to put Socialcast behind a firewall for extra protection.
Socialcast is similar in some ways to Yammer, a winner at last year’s TechCrunch 50, is a similar Twitter-like microblogging and communication platform for businesses that has gained popularity. But Socialcast seems to have a lot more bells and whistles than Yammer in its interface. Cubetree also offers a social network and microblogging platform for the enterprise. And of course there’s the mysterious and hyped Google Wave.
FriendFeed and those like it are just a slow moving car wreck… you can’t help but look even though you know how it ends.
Thanks TechCrunch and Leena for a great article about our new freemium model!
I just want to clarify that Socialcast is indeed *now* (instead of “not”) completely free for an unlimited number of users. There is no cost to use or administer corporate networks. I hope that clears up any questions that may be out there.
Thanks,
Carrie at Socialcast
This company has the worst customer service. I would highly stay away.
Hi Stephen -
We have a Get Satisfaction feedback forum and a toll free customer service line at 888-77-WEB-20 for all accounts. I don’t seem to see any support requests from someone with your name in our online or phone support logs, so please feel free to reach out and I’ll personally assist you and your company.
Thanks,
Carrie
That’s because Stephen probably has a competing service and is here to trash your presumably better offering.
You couldn’t be more wrong, probably work for Socialcast and that is your best answer to cover up the poor customer service.
Agreed with Nick.
Of course you agree with Nick. You two work together.
BOTTOM LINE: BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY!
The name is off putting…too much like ‘Socialist’ for me.
Wow. Talk about played out.
Last month I blogged about the need for a FriendFeed for enterprise http://bit.ly/3Nfw3X
Interesting to see the move from micro-sharing to aggregation and conversations. Like you said, Google Wave has us all wondering how this whole space will evolve.
Ya, this sounds like a great innovation I could also use at my blog.
http://www.youtechno.info