Ning 2830908 224608334 2008-07-09T17:11:58Z Oxymoron83 4414625 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/190.37.108.231|190.37.108.231]] ([[User talk:190.37.108.231|talk]]) to last version by 213.61.58.210 {{Infobox Website |name = Ning |logo = |screenshot = |caption = |url = http://www.ning.com |commercial = Yes |type = [[Social networking]] |language = |registration = |author = [[Marc Andreesen]], [[Gina Bianchini]] |owner = [[Marc Andreesen]], [[Gina Bianchini]] |launch date = October [[2005]] |current status = Online |revenue = |slogan = Create your own social network for anything }} '''Ning''' is an online platform for users to create their own social websites and social networks<ref name="economist">[http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9990635 Social Graph-iti], The Economist, Oct 18, 2007</ref>, launched in October [[2005]]. Ning was co-founded by [[Marc Andreessen]] and [[Gina Bianchini]]. Ning is Andreessen's third startup (after [[Netscape]] and [[Opsware]]), and gets much of its notability from Andreessen's successes with those companies.<ref name="infoweek">[http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202804053 Evaluating Tech Startups: The Risks And Rewards], by John Foley, InformationWeek, Nov 10, 2007.</ref><ref name="computerworld">[http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyId=10&articleId=9046680&intsrc=hm_topic Second acts: Seven tech titans today], by George Jones, Computerworld, Dec 3, 2007</ref> '''Ning''' means "peace" in Chinese, as explained by Gina Bianchini on the company blog.<ref name="definition">[http://blog.ning.com/2007/04/the_story_behind_the_ning_name.html The Story Behind the Ning Name], by Gina Bianchini, Ning Blog, April 11, 2007</ref> ==Features== Ning hopes to compete with large [[social networking|social sites]] like [[MySpace]] and [[Facebook]], by appealing to users who want to create networks around specific interests or have limited technical skills.<ref>[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_5394821,00.html Web pioneer touts Ning Inc. as easy to use social network], by Michael Liedtke, Rocky Mountain News, Mar 5, 2007</ref> The unique feature of Ning is that anyone can create their own custom [[Social network service|social network]] for a particular topic or need, catering to specific audiences. At its launch, Ning offered several simple base websites developed internally and by members of a closed beta. In late September of 2006, Ning narrowed its focus to offering a group website, a photos website, and a videos website for people to copy and use for any purpose. Later, these three templates were superseded by a single customizable template aimed at allowing non-developers to more easily customize their copy of the social website. However, Ning does allow developers to have some source level control of their social networks, enabling them to change features and underlying logic. Ning has also been used by educators in S-GI to conduct a book study on Curriculum Mapping. The ISTE Special Interest Group for Teacher Educators used a ning for a discussion group on a book called Reinventing Project Based Learning, A Field Guide for Real World Project in the Digital Age, http://sigte2008.ning.com/. Features were customized so that participants could upload pictures and videos of student developed projects as well as links to blogs and Flickr. Ning has announced support for the [[OpenSocial]] API that [[Google]] announced in late 2007. Developers will be able to run OpenSocial gadgets within their networks.<ref name="fortune">[http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/12/technology/online_ad_wars.fortune/?postversion=2007111304 The high-stakes fight for your friends], by Josh Quittner and Jessi Hempel, Fortune, Nov 22, 2007</ref> The websites running on its service are programmed with [[PHP]] and the platform itself is built in [[Java (programming language)|Java]].<ref name="cnet">[http://www.news.com/Andreessen-PHP-succeeding-where-Java-isnt/2100-1012_3-5903187.html Andreessen: PHP succeeding where Java isn't], by Stephen Shankland, CNET News, Oct 19, 2005</ref> ==Business Model== Currently, Ning has two primary business models. One allows users to create a network for free, in exchange for the network hosting ads that Ning supplies. The other, their "Ning for Business" option, offers users a network where they control the ad content (or lack thereof), in exchange for a monthly fee. A few other premium services such as extra storage and bandwidth and non-Ning URLs are also available for additional monthly fee. According to TechCrunch, adoption of Ning has not been as widespread as the company had hoped. It requires a knowledge of web programming, lacks the scalability of an open API, and can only be hosted on Ning's servers.<ref>[http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/01/20/ning-rip/ Ning - R.I.P.?], by Michael Arrington, TechCrunch, Jan 20, 2006</ref> After hitting 100,000 social networks, TechCrunch revised its forecast<ref>[http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/23/ning-milestone-100k-social-networks/ Ning Milestone: 100k Social Networks], by Michael Arrington, TechCrunch, Sep 23, 2007</ref> and Ning has been called "fast-growing".<ref name="economist"/> Currently, Ning hosts more than 275,000 networks.<ref name="275000networks">[http://blog.ning.com/2008/05/275000-social-networks-on-ning.html 275,000 Social Networks], by Gina Bianchini, Ning Blog, May 20, 2008</ref> ==The Company== The company started as a [[stealth startup]] named '24 Hour Laundry' with CEO Gina Bianchini and 14 employees. The name changed to Ning at launch in October [[2005]].<ref name="cnet2005">[http://www.news.com/Andreessen-adds-some-Ning-to-the-Web/2100-1032_3-5890005.html?tag=st.nl Andreessen adds some Ning to the Web], by Martin LaMonica, CNET news, Oct 6, 2005</ref> Ning was initially funded internally by Bianchini, Andreessen and [[angel investors]]. In July, [[2007]], Ning raised $44 million USD in [[venture capital]], led by [[Legg Mason]].<ref name="pmarca">[http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/07/ning-news-new-i.html Ning news: new investment round], by Marc Andreesen, blog.pmarca.com, Jul 9, 2007</ref> Ning is located in downtown [[Palo Alto]], [[California]]. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.ning.com Ning] * [http://blog.ning.com Ning Blog] * [http://uk.intruders.tv/Gina-Bianchini-shows-off-Ning-com_a132.html Interview with Gina Bianchini co-founder of Ning] * [http://www.stevehargadon.com/2007/07/marc-andreessen-from-web-browser-to.html Audio interview with Marc Andreessen] on Ning, social networking, and education (July 2007) * [http://www.stevehargadon.com/2007/04/interview-with-gina-bianchini-from-ning.html Audio interview with Gina Bianchini] on Ning (April 2007) [[Category:PHP programming language]] [[Category:Web 2.0]] [[Category:Online social networking]] [[it:Ning]] [[sk:Ning]] [[sr:Ning]]