Comments for Netvibes Claims 5 Million Users

Netvibes Claims 5 Million Users

2006-09-15T12:58:23Z

Man about town Om Malik bumped into Netvibes CEO Tariq Krim at the The Future of Web Apps conference in San Francisco. Tariq told Om that Netvibes now has 5 million users, so naturally he is very optimistic of its future. Currently on Read/WriteWeb we're running a poll asking whether independent Personalized Start Pages (such as Netvibes, Pageflakes and Webwag) have a viable future as profitable businesses. The results so far have just 51% of respondents saying yes, start pages do have a future. 47% think no, they will go the way of the dot coms. 2% admitted they don't know what start pages are. The poll is still open, so have your say here:

I liked Om's conclusion, which I heartily agree with - not just for Netvibes but Pageflakes and the other small start pages too. Om said:

"...when I see Netvibes, I see a company that is offloading a bulk of heavy lifting to the client, aka the browser. Not very different than Skype, you could say. I see a tool that if nurtured properly could become the gatekeeper to my attention. Just like MySpace has the attention of its 100 million plus users, Netvibes can do the same, but as a starting point for our digital journeys. Of course, the company has to keep innovating and coming up with ways to extend their ecosystem. And they need to maintain unwavering focus on making the service easier, faster and more convenient to use."

Despite Netvibe's 5M user base (is that return users?), we're still a way off start pages being mainstream tools. Yahoo has shown little interest in doing one - which indicates they're still of niche value. And I've determined they're no good as RSS Readers (both Netvibes and Pageflakes ate up too much of my PC's memory every time they loaded up all my RSS feeds). But as a home to mini web apps and widgets, which will become increasingly popular, start pages have a promising future.

Comment from steve mestdagh on 2006-09-15

2006-09-15T13:39:28Z

I wouldn't say "they're no good as RSS Readers". That's primarily what I use Netvibes for. There's probably a threshold (system dependent) where too many feeds create a memory problem.

Comment from Alex Iskold on 2006-09-15

2006-09-15T13:42:04Z

To me this is fundamentally about utility, and I see a big utility in having information aggregated in one place, via the same interface. Usability is really the key in this play and its gotten pretty good with promise to be much better in the future. So I think its going to stick.

Alex

Comment from Sameer on 2006-09-15

2006-09-15T15:13:37Z

I think the success (or how fast this can get mainstream) also has to do with how networks like MySpace evolve. If social networks continue to be closed, the need for a Netvibes becomes increasingly important. But if the MySpaces of the world augmented its social features with a true, *open* start page, folks will get to play, procrastinate, skive off work and have their attention management resources all in one place. ;)

That's not bad news for Netvibes in any way. They could gobble up a social platform, add the right dose of socialness that everyone needs (the 37 signals model) or become part of one. I personally thing it‚Äôs a very refreshing take on a Start Page and has a lot of promise. Good luck to you guys!

Comment from Ron on 2006-09-15

2006-09-15T15:57:34Z

I don't mean to be think headed, but sometimes I just don't "get" the businesses of some Web 2.0 companies. Can someone tell me how NetVibes is so differnet from MyGoogle or MyYahoo?

Comment from Antonio Altamirano on 2006-09-15

2006-09-15T18:19:12Z

The real value will come when tracking and "self-service" small businesses can tap into this technology and turn it into several different niche markets.

Start pages need to be tied to real value. i.e. Give me an easy way to tie my domain to a start page and let me track the hits and allow me to connect to my audience by providing services such as newsletters, podcasts and a secure way for my customers to purchase my product.

Comment from Mark on 2006-09-15

2006-09-15T19:51:12Z

One of the rules of business is if your product can be easily reproduced or improved upon expect stiff competition. Now I know these products (Netvibes, Pageflakes) aren't "easy" to produce, but there is no 'secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices' (remember that?).

The only reason they are where they are is becauase they are free services (at least I know Netvibes to be). Had they started at even $1 month they would not be on the map. And therein lies the problem. How do you go from free to not free? And sooner or later, all these sites cannot hope to ride the 'advertising money' business model.

I hate to say it, but though I am a loyal Netvibes user, I will not pay for it because the moment they charge there will be even STIFFER, free competition.

And if they end up pumping lots of ads onto the page - same result for me.

So what's a 5-million user company with no revenue to do? I'll let you know if I have any great ideas. Guess that's why I don't have a fledgling online business.

Comment from gareth on 2006-09-16

2006-09-16T09:20:50Z

prehaps start up pages like netvibes can make money by recommending content?

To be honest i would pay to continue to use netvibes,as it is so ingrained into my daily routinue. When the page goes down, i feel completely cut off.

Comment from dernier exile on 2006-09-16

2006-09-16T10:51:25Z

I agree with you richard, every pro know that on 5 million users you will have what? maximum 1 million of real user?(between 20 and 25%?) when companies will decide to not give us the number of accounts without a number of returning users? 2 month ago I read they had 3 million users, from where do they come?and as you said this rss reader take a lot too much pc's ressources... so why nobody say it? (beside you) everybody look into the future new features, but what about delivery a finished and working product?

Comment from James on 2006-09-16

2006-09-16T15:06:55Z

I tried Pageflakes, Google and other customisable ones but Netvibes feels so much better to me.

I don't use it as a home page - I don't always want a few dozen feeds to come up - but once I've done what I went online to do I go there and check up on news, blogs, podcasts, a Chuck Norris Fact, weather and my eBay items. I've also stopped logging in to GMail and just use the tool on Netvibes.

Comment from Matt on 2006-09-18

2006-09-18T20:30:59Z

Netvibes.com is a great service and i for one find it very convenient.
Well, in fact two, Netvibes.com and Grupus.com
why netvibes is obvious. instead of checking many sites, the information i want is there when i start the browser.
On the other hand grupus lets me talk and shre photos with the closest of my friends privately. And privately is the keyword here. i dont think anyone else provides such a service in that convenient a way

Comment from kyle on 2006-09-21

2006-09-22T06:43:46Z

i think this is a great rss reader. i love that you can add tabs with the rss clusters already added.

can anyone name a better rss reader?

Comment from Craig McDonnell on 2006-09-29

2006-09-29T18:51:39Z

I'm similarly confused as to what the NetVibes business model is. I read somewhere they've recently received a large investment and (after using the for only 2 days) see real promise for these widget aggregators.... I've already set NetVibes as an ActiveDesktop on XP... which is working great!

I think the NetVibes product at least has a promising future!