Is there a lack of new online communication services coming on stream – or perhaps it’s all iPhone app related advances instead?
Following on from a conversation earlier this week I’ve been doing a bit of an audit of services I subscribe to and have come to the conclusion that there’s not much must-have new stuff that’s surfaced in the past few months.
Or maybe it’s that I’m not finding them. If s o what am I missing?
At one stage, about 18 months ago, there seemed to be something new coming on stream very day. OK, some didn’t even stick long enough to make it onto my bookmarks – anyone still doing Plurk or Brightkite? – but others were persevered with.
Updating the contacts page on this blog, I’ve now removed some listings of places I no longer find essential – but there’s very few additions.
What came in;
* Skype: Has become properly useful with my mobile and remote working patterns.
* Qik : Reliable and invaluable mo-blogging tool.
* AudioBoo: Only just added but expected to stick.
* FriendFeed: Still not an everyday, but starting to see its value, particularly as a live-blogging tool.
What went out;
* The second Twitter account I had been using for live-blogging in Manchester. All Twitter activity will now be consolidated @foodiesarah.
* Bambuser. Was in regular use until the service failed at a particularly important live-blogging moment.
* Utterli: Has been utterly pointless since the UK phone number service ceased.
* Seesmic: Wasn’t a regular haunt although, of all the above, this is one I’m keeping an open mind to have a return to.
Any recommendations or suggestions of new stuff gratefully consumed.
Dim Sum Digital 
We’re all sat around waiting for Google Wave to get launched. That changes the game for a lot of online communication stuff, and so a lot of developers are moving their game to integrating with their open protocols based on XMPP.
Some people are even thinking it could be the end of email if the “Federated Protocol” stuff and open-source stack all become available as expected. Watch that space.
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I laughed when I read your list Sarah as I reckon I’d have picked out the same, barring Audioboo, which I’ve joined but not bothered using yet. Sigh… I miss Utterli.
Seesmic was a habit I lost – although I rate it still I just don’t seem to use it – and I find both Qik and Bambuser temperamental so end up using whichever irritated me least at the previous outing.
Friendfeed I’m see more and more value in, especially as my network grows.
The areas I’m trying to learn about now are around creating opportunities for collaboration. I guess Google Wave will show up in a few months time and wash all of that out of the window, though.
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