Marc's Voice

Cyworld ships

I’ve been waiting a  while to comment on our client Cyworld’s shipping.

We first started working with Cyworld last year in April, helping them to create a unique US market offering.  Most of that advice was ignored and so what we have is a pretty good copy of what is available in Korea, and also Japan, China and Taiwan.

Cyworld is remarkably different from the rest.  In that regard - I guess sticking to their guns and making sure that Cyworld is different was a smart decision.  It certainly doesn’t FEEL like a MySpace clone.

There are lots of things to do, a unique business model (with another one - music streaming coming as well) and all sorts of quirky, weird, clunky UI hoops to jump through.  Blogging isn’t called blogging, you don’t display your face (but a cutesey MiniMe avatar) and you can’t put up your own images onto your ‘minihome’ - you have to BUY images.

Cyworld is the only social network owned by a Telco worldwide.  So they have resources, compunction and a bank account to survive.  They make something like $300k a day in Korea - so they think they have the right model and now its time to roll that out - worldwide.

Watch for them to do a deal in Europe - as well.

Only time will tell how Cyworld is received in the US.  They’re focusing on young girls, which needless to say - LOVE cutsey avatars, user interfaces and lots of pink. I doubt mainstream boys will dig it - unless of course all the girls they want to hit up on - are there.

But for the rest of us - well give me my Baby Boomer site - and I’ll be happy listening to the Rolling Stones, shopping at Whole Foods and buying aroma candles and bath salts.

Meanwhile there’s been a ton of press on Cyworld, which is about right if you’re spending the type of money they are.  Starting with Business 2.0, SFgate and TechCrunch.

Rafat is calling it a $10M investment - which I’m not sure of, but they certainly are spending money.