Microsoft's new "financial MySpace" is anything but MySpacey. But, that's the way these communities get labeled when it comes to explaining them to mainstream audiences, and it's the phrase Microsoft is using to promote its latest endeavor.
Microsoft Dynamics Live, which just launched at the Convergence conference in San Diego, is a community for financial professionals. That's interesting, since Reuters just announced that it too will launch a "MySpace for Finance". Microsoft Dynamics Live is aimed at accountants, finance managers, finance staff and other people with adrenaline-filled jobs - they will, however, change the name of the community to something catchier fairly soon (based on their current naming system, it'll be Microsoft Windows Live MSN Finance Dynamics Community Beta). Users don't need to use Microsoft Dynamics apps.
Is it any good? Well, like aggreg8, Microsoft's "MySpace for It Pros", it's just a bit odd. There are some notable social features - a Digg-like rating system for blog posts, tagging of your posts, forums and expert columns, but you get the sense that it just isn't ready for prime time yet. Maybe Microsoft should acquire a white label social networking company so it can roll out more of these niche communities?
[via]