We've seen this show before: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PointCast_(dotcom)

Think it'll play out any different 10+ years later?

Déjà Vu,
I offer you really haven't seen "this show" before. Yes, PointCast did provide a feed service and we do as well. However, that is a bit like saying the '07 Falcons and the '08 Falcons both played football.

I think the important differences sort into two considerations: context and focus.

For context, while push technology to the desktop in '96 might have seemed like a great idea, I don’t think we had the infrastructure or the proper online perspective to make it work. If my “state-of-the-art” IT set up lost its ability to process both of the bank transactions it could handle in an hour because some mailroom screensaver was force-fed a download, I’d probably scream too. Plus, why did we need news content on a computer anyway? The best and most up to date info was probably coming in this afternoon’s paper or soon to CNN.

A significant difference today (besides the fact that most businesses have sufficient infrastructure to allow employees to simultaneously access web services) is our online life. We practically live there; it is the nexus for both business and personal engagement. What we’re providing is a service for today’s nexus.

As to focus, after almost a year in pilot programs, we feel we have an understanding of what our end users are actually seeking and what may or may not work in a business setting. While the PointCast Network team charted new waters with pushed news, we’re focused on mashing up key activities folks are already doing. By combining the ability to merge pulled content (e.g. subscribed RSS) with pushed UGC (chat style comm.), outside of the actual browser environment, we deliver a more elegant and functional social media construct. With tick-it, the blog I follow can actually become a member of a private group I set up and we can debate it while we watch Hulu. PointCast = one way info push; tick-it = one and two way social engagement matched to today’s multi-tasking, online life.

I can’t say we won’t trip up along the way, but I don’t think we’re the same show. PointCast seized a lot of interest—today’s twitter like interest—before they fell back to earth for performance and management reasons. I’d like some of that rise, but our audience will demand the performance up front—you’re a much more savvy and experienced crowd…and that’s a good thing for us all.

I think Balaya is positioned to provide an attention grabbing service that is aligned with a deep market opportunity. I’d love to hear your thoughts; feel free to drop me a line.

Bob
Balaya CEO