Microsoft has announced Vine this morning, a location-based social networking tool intended to help people stay connected in public emergencies.
Currently an invite-only beta, Microsoft Vine is a Windows desktop application that can also be accessed through text message or email, and is designed to maintain function when other communications infrastructure breaks down. In fact, the idea was conceived by Microsoft general manager Tammy Savage after Hurricane Katrina.
Vine is similar to other social applications in that you can add friends and family to your network, organize them into groups, send and receive alerts, and post longer reports. You can also receive news updates from over 20000 sources and public safety organizations, and see reports from places you care about on a map.
The core issue with Microsoft Vine will be whether it can gain the user traction required for any social network to succeed. Especially when sites like Twitter and Facebook are so popular and provide similar functionality. Vine currently does integrate with Facebook and will post updates on your Facebook profile. And there are plans to incorporate Twitter and other social networks in the future. But even though it incorporates other social networks, it still is, in essence, a social network. Can it differentiate itself by being a social network intended for public emergencies? Maybe. Especially if it can gain traction among actual public safety groups and businesses.
While it will launch in Seattle first and likely won’t be available outside of the United States for awhile, I’ll probably install it on my computer when I can for public emergencies. Especially if it can keep me in touch with loved ones when my mobile phone can’t. Other than that though, I can’t see myself using it on a day-to-day basis.
But no matter what I think or do, it’s still a great idea put into play by Microsoft. Overall I’m impressed with the thinking behind Microsoft Vine.
