Updated : Reliance Logs Into Social Networking - Big Adda !

[Arun 795]

Times News Network

Friday, May 11, 2007 05:56:19 PM

India may soon join the social networking bandwagon. According to reports, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's Reliance Entertainment is launching a social networking site of its own.

The Website called 'Big Adda', is currently in 'alpha' testing stage, and hence, available to Internet users on an 'invitation only' basis.

Quoting company sources, the report adds that the Web site actually has been functioning since March this year, when users were invite to choose a logo from some 9 to 10 design options. The users were later asked to pick the template they liked best.

'Big Adda' is said to have a Web 2.0 format, and combines the usual 'social networking' structure with features like blog posts, forums, video uploads, and a messaging feature that is more like e-mail.

The report says that 'Big Adda' will have communities with diverse interests ranging from politics to economics to entertainment.

The Website will have a dedicated section for users' videos in different categories. The members will be able to rate the videos and comment on them. The video categories will be in several regional languages including Hindi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, etc.

The report says that the existing users are being encouraged to give their feedback on the Website, and also contribute newer ideas for further development.

The report adds that the 'beta' launch of 'Big Adda' is likely to take place by the end of this month or by early next month.

Check out: www.bigadda.com

[Nirvana 4]

BigAdda plans to launch more services

Sify.com

Saturday, 20 October , 2007, 09:47

Pune: Reliance ADA Group’s BigAdda.com is jazzing up their social networking site to attract more users. The domestic internet user base now stands at 40 million subscribers and more people are using mobile phones to access internet.

The Reliance ADA Group’s BigAdda.com is planning to launch more services. Siddharth Roy, Chief Operating Officer, and Nikhil Soman, Chief Technical Officer, BigAdda, said the site along with the usual offerings such as video and photo storage, is all set to launch a music vertical.

Instant messaging

The other plans include the launch of an instant messenger. These would be made available to the users within the next six weeks. Roy said the mobile segment is being tapped into and would begin with basic services such as networking, photos and blogging. He said BigAdda.com has about six lakh customers, who in turn, have invited about 20 lakh people.

BigAdda plans to add 10 million customers by 2010. The service began in August 2007. Roy said it also has a contest for the youth to work with the filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.

Users can make an original video using a handycam, digicam or mobile or write a script and upload it on the BigAdda site. These would have to be uploaded on the ‘Direct a movie’ adda and would be judged by Bhandarkar. The maker of the best video or script would get a chance to work with him.

[Honest 836]

BigAdda goes mobile

Business Line

Ahmedabad, Sept. 5 Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group’s Big Adda has taken social networking to mobile phones through Mobile Adda. It will have similar features as that of its online counterpart Big Adda such as text, voice, photo scribbles, auto updates and notifications.

“The number of mobile users today far exceeds the penetration and usage of PCs in India. Currently, bigadda.com is reaching out to the 40 million Internet user base in India and with us going to the mobile platform, we will be able to reach an additional 50 million users,” said Mr Shivanandan Pare, Chief Operating Officer.

Facebook and Orkut have WAP sites that service the global markets but are not formatted for the India-centric devices, according to a release. Indyarocks and Ibibo also offer a basic SMS service allowing users to receive alerts but BigAdda claims to offer all key features through all forms of access – SMS, WAP and Java Client.

To receive Big Adda on the mobile phone, the user needs to SMS BIGADDA to 55454.

[Honest 836]

Bigadda.com launches mobile-friendly version

Mr Shivanandan Pare (left), Chief Operating Officer, BigAdda, and Mr Nikhil Soman, Chief Technology Officer, at a press conference in Chennai on Wednesday.

Chennai, Sept. 17 To bring the growing number of mobile users on to its platform, social networking portal Bigadda.com, a division of Reliance Big Entertainment, has launched its mobile-friendly version of the portal.

The portal, which can be accessed through the GPRS-enabled mobile handsets, will have key features of social networking such as searching for friends and communicating with them through text, voice and photo scribbles.

Announcing the launch of the service, Mr Shivanandan Pare, COO, BigAdda, said this on-the-move application would enable users to register themselves through their mobile handsets. Besides, the phone book in the mobile handset can be used to send invitations to one’s new friends. “The built-in phonebook back-up utility stores users’ phonebook on our server, and in case the user changes his/her handset or lost the phonebook, the same can be retrieved from our site,” he said.

According to Mr Nikhil Soman, Chief Technology Officer, the portal has developed different application software to suit various types of mobile handsets, depending on their screen size, resolution and various other factors. Currently, there are over 500 client application software.

The download process automatically detects the user’s handset model and installs an application version created specifically for that device family.

“There are over 50 device families that our download process detects and to enhance reach and availability of this application, we will continue the process of developing new versions for new devices as they enter the market place,” he said. The company’s main revenue source is advertising space. It has tied up with production houses in Bollywood to advertise movies through special clippings. “We are also exploring the possibilities of establishing other revenue streams,” said Mr Pare.

He said that BigAdda currently has registered subscriber base of over 2.5 million and is adding at least 15,000 each day. Now, with this new initiative, it targets 100-150 million mobile users to get on to this platform in the first few months.

Courtesy : Business Line