Hi5 adds virtual gifts in time for holidays around the world
Social network hi5 has launched a gift store. Like Facebook and MySpace, the company will let its users buy virtual gifts for each other. Virtual goods brings in hundreds of millions of dollars for web companies in Asia, but the revenue stream is still picking up in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Hi5 has users worldwide, but especially in Latin America, so it remains to be seen how significant this new revenue stream will be for the company.
However, hi5 is maximizing gift-giving potential for its diverse user base. The virtual currency used for buying these gifts, called Coins, will be available for purchase by credit or debit card worldwide through partner Clickandbuy.com’s payment service. The gifts, of which there are 36 at the moment, include Chinese steamed pork buns, a Mexican “Rosca” cake eaten on January 6th to celebrate Three Kings’ Day, and a Jewish dreidel. Gifts are priced based on local purchasing power and exchange rates.
Likewise, Facebook recently switched from a dollar currency to a generic virtual currency to allow it to locally reprice gifts. MySpace has yet to launch a virtual goods service, but it will integrate features for third-party developers. Of course, third-party developers on Facebook and other social networks already use virtual goods concepts within their games. Virtual worlds like Habbo have used virtual goods for years.
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About the Author, Eric Eldon
Eric currently covers digital media technology and business news, especially what's happening on social networks and their platforms. He also writes and edits stories about venture capital, and lots of other stuff, too. He started at VentureBeat in the spring of 2007, half a year or so after Matt Marshall left his reporting job at the San Jose Mercury News to found the site. Eric previously cofounded a startup called Writewith, that was building editorial software for newspapers and other groups of writers. The startup didn't work out, but he learned a lot.
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