Google launches Orkut.com for social networking

Posted on 26 Jan 2004 at 10:15

Google is jumping on the current bandwagon for social networking with the launch of Orkut.com.

`to Orkut` is not a word which instantly springs to mind when looking to increase your circle of contacts, although Orkut is the name of one Orkut Buyukkokten who is an employee at Google who developed the system.

Orkut says it is 'an affiliate' of Google. What this apparently means is that Google employees are allowed up to 20 per cent of their time on 'other projects'. Buyukkokten has chosen to spend his time building the social networking system which Google has now decided to roll out.

Social networking is the latest craze for Internet companies. A kind of cross between a dating service and a pyramid scheme, the idea is that you can be introduced to new people through recommendations from existing friends. The biggest of such sites is Friendster.com, which, con-incidentally, Google was rumoured to bid for last year.

The stated aim of Orkut is to create 'an online trusted community website designed for friends. The main goal of our service is to make the social life of yourself and your friends more active and stimulating.' All very well although unlike Friendster you have to be 'invited' to join by an existing member - which could prove a problem for a startup service with no customers. However, it is said that all Google employees have been signed up so if you know someone in Google now's the time to pull in a favour and get yourself inside the club.

So the status of Orkut is unclear. Like many of Google's own services Orkut is 'in beta' and may remain that way for some time. It just might remain a side project for one of Google's employees and a staff dating service or become a standalone service with backing from the search engine - as blogger.com has become. However, there is no sign-up fee currently for Orkut or any advertising. Furthermore, with the rumoured IPO due to happen this year and its competitors like Yahoo and Microsoft becoming more aggressive, Google may decide it doesn't need another marginal distraction at this stage.

Author: Steve Malone