AT&T has launched its newest interactive product called Buzz.com. Interestingly, aside from the similarity with Google Buzz, it seems that both service might tend to overlap in terms of function and purpose. AT&T’s Buzz is a social recommendation site with a dash of local search function. It’s a new service for sharing local tips or “buzz” with your friends.
Similar to most social media sites, Buzz.com also taps into the growing social networks. Hence you can register using your Facebook credentials. So, once you register to Buzz.com using your Facebook profile, you don’t really need to build a new community of friends or sift through rants and raves from strangers.
Buzz.com also provides personalized local search based on the recommendations of people you know and trust. Again, another vital ingredient of a successful social recommendation site.
David Krantz, AT&T President and CEO Interactive said that Buzz.com was built on the strong foundation influnced by AT&T Interactive’s leadership and success in local search.
“By offering buzz.com alongside our other local search properties like YP.COM, we create opportunity to reach a broader – and growing user segment that relies on their community to make decisions. For favorited businesses, it means immediate recognition of a loyal customer and positive exposure among a network of friends,” said Mr. Krantz.
Buzz.com revolves around three main function:
- Favorite: “Heart†your faves – whether it’s a restaurant, plumber or golf course – to build a personal list of favorites. Add a 160 character comment and tags so that friends know exactly why you love it. Think of it as social bookmarking for your local world.
- Search: On buzz.com, search is personal. When you search for local businesses, services or places, you immediately see how many of your friends, friends of friends, and the entire buzz.com network have faved each spot. It’s a source of trusted recommendations that may become your new personal favorites.
- Ask and Answer: Start a conversation with friends on buzz.com or the social network that you already socialize with them on – by asking a question. Whether they answer on buzz.com or on your Facebook Wall, you can read, reply with a question or comment, and revisit the recommendations later. Reciprocate by answering friends’ questions, too.
You can access Buzz.com on your mobile via m.buzz.com or from its website at buzz.com. And in case you haven’t noticed it yet based on our description, Buzz.com is going up against strong competitors in the location-based social media market, namely Gowalla, Foursquare, Google Buzz, among others.
Originally posted on April 20, 2010 @ 5:47 pm
