User talk:Sungheema

History of Cyworld and Evolution: past, present and future

The Cyworld first pioneered (1st in the world) common forum community services in 1999 and in year 2001 begun services like 'Mini Homepys' typifying SNS. Merely 3 to 4 years ago SNS was behind shadows of dominant Korean Internet blogs like Daum Cafe Freechae and Iloveschool. But, the Internet User felt the needs for their own personal online space. By then, Cyworld opened a new industry. They focused more on individual web service. User felt that Cyworld was different compare to the other web service. In addition, it was new thing to have virtual room. Users make their minihompy for inviting and appealing to visitors. Users also could creative their own Abata. They had many options to change Abata clothes, hairstyle and jewelleries. It was first experience users had personal web site and Abata. Cyworld tried to make a real life environment online. It is called virtual world. It is also playable that is users can make friends through Cyworld. Members cultivate on- and off-line relationships by forming “first-degree” buddy relationships with each other through a service called “minihompy,” which encompasses a photo gallery, message board, guestbook and personal bulletin board. A user can link his/her minihompy to another user’s minihompy to form a buddy relationship [2]. Moreover, users also can find friends. They just need to put friends name or birthday on Cyworld search engine. Cyworld already proved many contents with good customer service. So what is Cyworld future? Cyworld set a new business is called Cyworld 2. What is Cyworld 2? They just upgraded their service with Widget (economics), a placeholder name for an object or, more specifically, a mechanical or other manufactured device. Now they have new business ideas to go further as global company. They offer 20 free widgets to users. So users can try and play with this new service. So what users going to have benefit from? First of all, users favorite infomation, delivered live to their desktop. According to SK CEO, widget has massive potential in the future market. It is going to be next ideal service. As they realize that widget consuming is increasing rapidly. Secondly, by installing the Widgets plug-in by Automatic and using a widget-ready theme, you can bring the popular customization feature. So, Cyworld provides many items include widgets. In addition, Cyworld has also international version for other nationality members, which has different language option. So, They can choose to specific language. It used to be only way to use IE function. But they try to develop their very high PC access ability environment with firefox, safari, IE7 and opera. Another issue is Cyworld and Nate.com change to Empas search engine. So when user research on Cyworld they have same result as Empas has. They believe it is useful and convenience to users to have search engine and UCC contents service at the same time. It seems that the next step is the ‘breakdown of the portal silo’ where users will be able to have all their things in one place, and provide only a certain view to a variety of portals or community sites, with various levels of privacy [3].

Therefore Cyworld has opened to the world with new business plan to become international community site. But the real test will be whether Cyworld can grow into the first truly international social network.