Rediff introduces social content sharing platform ‘iShare’

July 11: Because of increasing popularity of social content sharing site like Orkut and YouTube, Rediff.com has introduced ‘iShare’, a social networking site especially for Indians including NRI on Tuesday July 10, 2007 in New Delhi. ‘iShare’ includes the amalgamation property of Orkut and Youtube which allows the users to contents, videos, music and pictures on a high speed with great efficiency.

Rediff is targeting more than 50 million Indian who accesses internet as Rediff claims that approximately 40 percent of the internet users use any service of Rediff. For increasing its business and reaching very wide, Rediff has launched this site as the popularity of content sharing culture is growing very rapidly. The growth rate of social networking is much higher then any other Internet service.

“Today we have very popular social networking sites like Youtube and orkut, but there was no site exclusively for Indians. This new platform will help fill this gap,” said Ajit Balakrishnan the Chairman and CEO of Rediff.com on the launching platform.

“Multimedia growth is driving the Internet in a big way. By bringing together audio, video and images through iShare we are targeting maximum online users. We believe that 'iShare' will provide users a context to connect and enjoy a more comprehensive multimedia entertainment experience on the Internet”, said Balakrishnan.

“To make it commercially viable, we will also add advertisements with videos, besides tying up with various organizations. It also provides the users with viral tools that include showing a commercial before or after a user’s video and sharing of revenue”, said the Rediff CEO.

Rediff chief claims that iShare can upload multiple files even at low speed efficiently without having to worry about the origin. It is very user friendly as it is very easy to use its all utility tool. Users can upload pictures and videos made in mobile phones, digicam, digital camcorder and music from mp3 players like ipods without worrying about the quality. Rediff chief is also expected to provide open opportunities for Indian youth to showcase their talents on the Internet via iShare. “Besides youth, it will also bring professionals newer audiences for their work” expects Rediff.

Asking about the security and privacy of the user and preventing misuse of content, Balakrishan said, “We have special moderators who would keep a check on content uploaded and user policing. Also, our users can report abuse in case of any inappropriate content. A person who is logged on can object to any content can report the abusive content by just clicking on a key for reporting abuse.”

Besides this Rediff also shacked hands to Zee TV for a joint venture program ‘Voice of Rediff on Zee Sa re ga ma pa’. Rediff wants to cash the popularity of popular music show on Zee TV, ‘Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’, the pratham vishvayudh of music. All the budding singers can upload their audio or video files on iShare.

Through this knot Rediff wants to reach to the TV viewers too. It will be mutually benefited to both, the Channel and Rediff. “By launching the joint initiative, the channel will be able to attract more young audience, help build equity of the brand and will be able to enhance international footprint,” said Zee TV’s marketing head, Tarun Mehra. He was also present on the occasion of launching iShare.