VZ networks undergo radical

VZ networks undergo radical

The VZ-networks will counter with a new concept to the loss of members. These include a redesign of the three networks StudiVZ SchuelerVZ (in the future instead of Pink Green Blue) and FreundeVZ (previously MeinVZ), which is due to go online this week. This represents only one element of the strategy, VZ-chief Clemens Riedl said in an interview with heise online.

The VZ-networks, since 2007, owned by the Holtzbrinck publishing group, move to redesign their technology platform. Instead of a self-development is now a browser-based application is based on the Google Web Toolkit used. Members will have repercussions among other things, in the form of real-time notifications, the transition easier for developers to Google and open source software to implement new features.

The new layout is three columns of the networks and is similar in structure and Google + Facebook: the navigation links in the middle of the content, context sensitive right people or subjects proposed. Below is a chat bar, next to the exchange of text messages will now also supports video telephony. Necessary for it to be different than the competition, no additional plugins.


Home of the new FreundeVZ Riedl points out that unlike the right column Facebook is completely free of advertising and is used for networking and interaction. Unlike the international networks, there at the VZ networks, however, continue to large-sized flash on and off the advertising content ("wallpaper") - according to Riedl in Germany, a common format. Alongside this display advertising Riedl will also "social campaigning" (sponsored thematic pages and the like) and the sale of virtual goods earn money in games. In fiscal 2011, the VZ-networks, paid for Holtzbrinck in 2007 nearly 90 million € for the first time to be profitable.

Will be discussed thematically in the future, the current Group structure is dissolved. In the three networks, there are several features in the future that are tailored to the respective target groups: SchuelerVZ In the virtual classroom, the courses and StudiVZ FreundeVZ in the design of the nightlife. When FreundeVZ also changes the target group: the network was previously thought for former students and professionals, it is now targeted as StudiVZ in 18 - to 29-year-old. Riedl said, especially young people have a great need then, to present themselves in social networks and express themselves. The VZ-networks with their major focus on their own profile page would meet this need for admiration, for older people is the concept less attractive.

On the profile page should also VZ activities of members in other parts of the Internet are made visible. An interface to Twitter is already there, an integration of the Facebook stream is being discussed internally. This, however, many other decisions for further design of the networks will increasingly be placed in the hands of community members to vote on new features and bring their own wishes to express yourself - if the demand to the VZ networks respond with adjustments.

The redesign of the VZ-networks will go online this week, the new pages, however, are declared as a "trial". For the next six to nine months old and new networks to be operated in parallel, during which users can switch back and forth between versions back and forth. With the revision, the VZ-networks are now competitive again, VZ-chief Riedl told heise online. It was not but an attack on the new top dog Facebook: ". First of all, it's about stopping the decline of the user base for the acquisition of new people we have neither the time nor the offer."

The VZ-networks have 16.2 million members, 9.8 million users according to the networks at least once a month looking AGOF. The range and therefore the activity in the networks but has recently decreased rapidly: Did the VZ-networks according to the IVW in August 2010 to 408 million more visits and 11.6 billion page views, were there a year later, only 129 million visits to 2.3 billion page views.