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eHub Interviews Userplane

Thanks to Mike Jones, CEO of Userplane, for this email interview posted February 6, 2006.

eHub: What is your web application/service about?

Userplane: Userplane provides a suite of communication tools that enable live conversations, with full audio/video and text, within the web browser. This system was originally designed and implemented through a subscription model and has recently progressed into a free, no-install ad-supported model as well.

eHub: Why did you start this project?

Userplane: The first suite of tools was driven by the need for a web-based, closed network, instant messenger for online communities (social networks, groups, online dating websites, etc).  Analyzing user patterns of our initial tools, we have since taken a broader approach and have become one of the primary communication networks linking users over the web in real time.

eHub: How much time do you devote to its growth?

Userplane: We are a full time, 12 person company.

eHub: How large is your team and what are your backgrounds?

Userplane: We have 12 staffers, a strong mix of dedicated team members that work with our creative, technical and business needs. 

eHub: What is your design philosophy?

Userplane: Easy, simple, useful: ergonomic. Our product and design philosophy start well before our applications are actually “launched.” We want our offering to be obvious and compelling right when you hit our site, and for sign-up to be effortless. Finally, using our applications should be like playing with a great toy - fun out of the box and enjoyable to learn. 

eHub: What technologies are you currently using?

Userplane: We embrace Macromedia Flash, AJAX, standard HTML and a wide array of server tools that power our network.

eHub: What are the most requested features from your users/community?

Userplane: We hear more and more requests for additional customization, which we are planning to provide.

eHub: Does your user base reside in a primary geographic location or is it distributed?

Userplane: Deployed internationally on sites ranging from online dating to social networks to blogs, Userplane reaches millions of users daily in more than fifteen countries.

eHub: Where do you see the project heading in the next 6 months?  The next 2 years?

Userplane: Userplane will be a more centralized experience and concept.  Rather than a company that makes multiple applications that work independently, we will be one thing: instant community for any site and any user.  We will continue to expand our features for site-based communities, but we will increasingly be consumer-facing - making sense for individual users to sign up and centrally access our vast networks of diverse communities. Everyone will come to our site and experience the same thing --but by making simple choices during a “build-your-userplane” experience, each Userplane community will be customized for individual access privileges, look and feel, features, and monetization (advertising and revenue-share).

eHub: What is the greatest challenge to your success?

Userplane: Balancing necessary simplicity with necessary growth.

eHub: What is the one thing you need to get to the next phase of the project?

Userplane: We need to focus on our next version of applications, while maintaining the continued loyalty of current customers and users.

eHub: Do you have a business model?  If so, what is it?

Userplane: Yes, we currently are cash flow positive and profitable, monetizing our usage from subscription based services and advertising revenue.

eHub: If you’re able to disclose this information, how much traffic or usage do you see on an average day?

Userplane: On an average day our network touches over 1M unique users, spread across nearly 60,000 different web destinations.

eHub: What is the one thing you’re most proud of about the project?

Userplane: Great reach and growth rate, which more than anything will always measure our value.  To have millions of users in more than 20 countries means we’re something people want.

eHub: How would you describe the shift that’s occurring with the web right now to future generations?

Userplane: Simple—the web is merging with the larger metaphor of computing. Instead of being “The Web” - it will just be the “space” where all computing exists. This means software as services - from Gmail to Office on the web to Userplane to etc....

eHub: What site(s) do you visit everyday other than your own?

Userplane: We typically track sites that are aggregating new launches of web 2.0 businesses. Your eHub provides a great quick view into the new web 2.0 world.  We also often visit TechCrunch for the same reasons.

eHub: How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

Userplane: I have a one year old, so as many as she will allow me! :-)

Thanks to Mike Jones, CEO of Userplane, for this email interview posted February 6, 2006.

Visit Userplane
Originally added to eHub on Sep 19, 05

» More eHub Interviews

eHub Interviews is a series with the creators of Web 2.0 applications and services by Emily Chang, author of eHub, designer, and co-founder and principal of Ideacodes, a strategic web consultancy in San Francisco that she co-founded with Max Kiesler.

Also see eHub Interviews in Japanese at CNET Japan