That is what Robin Wauters at Techcrunch wrote about in a quite Valleywag-like headline. But going beyond the headline he seems to be right. Something is not right with Userplane. I cannot say i noted it because i get to see so much stuff that you only remember these things when looking for references to the new stuff you get to see.
(I know. weird way to point it out)
There are things i do note now when reflecting back to the last 12 months of Userplane when it comes to my following of the Widget space:
1.-I stopped seeing Ads for it
In blogs and even in AOL properties which is weird because when userplane was bought out and integrated to AOL. It was given quite the preferential treatment by what is known as “Platform A†that is the very spread and deep reaching AD platform/agency AOL got.
2.- Their last two major product updates didn’t heated up
The ones i covered here and here didn’t seemed to had gained any traction and i have never encountered a site using them. so i ignore where their found traction.
3.-Never understood their pricing
In my opinion, the pricing of userplane pro services was not well leveled and it also resulted very expensive compared to competing products that offered it cheaper and at similar quality. so i think that is the most important point. maybe the prices were unrealistic and this was the major block for its adoption.
Then there is the AOL Shuffle
Robin reflects more in the Organizational Shuffle AOL is going through and while there is no doubt that got a lot to do. i don’t think that this is the fault of a CEO or of the top executives of AOL. The best theory is that AOL is placing more importance in Social Networking and Lifestreaming after acquiring Bebo and Socialthing. This one is the most likely since we already had seen how AOL had made serious cuts and changes to their Widget Strategy after what happened with the innovative YourMinis and Goowy Desktop. Userplace could easily be a victim of that focus shift or victim of its performance for AOL. that is something that only a direct statement by AOL or someone with good data can answer.
I still find Userplane a great Widget provider when it comes to the technology, looks and versatility of the widgets they offer. so i will go with the pricing not being low enough and the simple fact that the competition is brutal. more when they even have to compete with other products from the same company they represent.
Robin post got a lot of good nuggets and it makes for a good read so take a look to it.
