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NowLive user broadcast service adds widget

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nowlive.jpgNowLive, a relatively new online service which combines social networking and user-generated broadcasting, announced a new widget today for making it easier to get a talk show noticed by the online masses. This widget can be plugged into a variety of Web sites.

The NowLive Talk Show widget lets anyone with a social networking profile on sites such as MySpace or blog sites like LiveJournal, Blogger and TypePad embed their own live talk show directly into their personal profile. NowLive in general works by letting one dial a local phone number to create voice streams for his or her new talk show. Talk show hosts can interact with listeners through a variety of tools and the shows are later made available as downloadable podcasts.

“Bloggers, podcasters and anyone who wants to be heard can be on the air in less than 60 seconds,” said NowLive Co-founder & CEO Kevin Bromber. “But unlike traditional radio, a social broadcast lets the audience actively participate in the show from their computers and cell phones.”

Originally posted on July 23, 2007 @ 3:36 pm

ePregnancy.com relaunches to increase user-experience

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epregnancy.jpgBabyUniverse, Inc., an Internet content, commerce, and new media company in the pregnancy, baby and toddler marketplace, announced the re-launch of ePregnancy.com. The site now offers enhanced features and social networking capabilities for a heightened user experience.

ePregnancy.com is now delivered through an interactive format in which the consumer can tune in to broadcast-quality streaming television, browse an extensive catalog of expert articles, interact through live events, respond to synchronized and targeted advertisements, engage in e-commerce transactions, and interact with peers through a thriving message board community.

A top-notch editorial team brings ePregnancy visitors top pregnancy and baby resources. Content includes product reviews and recall information, week-by-week pregnancy calendars, expert articles and blogs and original video programming on a variety of topics related to pregnancy and parenthood. The site also offers a robust set of social networking tools that allows users to create and share their own blogs, picture galleries, and chat dialogues with other ePregnancy members. Soon visitors will be able to create their own pregnancy pages and invite friends and family to share.

Originally posted on July 23, 2007 @ 9:11 am

Hi5 raises $20M in funding

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Hi5San Francisco-based social networking startup Hi5 was reported to have raised $20M in funding with the help of Mohr Davidow Ventures.

Struggling to compete with social networking giants Facebook and MySpace, Hi5 has about 30 million members to date, serving up to 200 million pages a day. Compared to its counterparts, what makes Hi5 different is their conscious effort to regionalize their network across different major languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, Portugese, and Romanian. Because of this, Hi5 has gained popularity in Latin American countries.

Via GigaOM

Originally posted on July 22, 2007 @ 10:44 pm