Multiply (website)

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Multiply, Inc.
A typical user page on Multiply.
Type	Private
Founded	Boca Raton, Florida (December, 2003)
Headquarters	Boca Raton, Florida
Key people	Peter Pezaris Michael Gersh David Hersh
Industry	Internet
Website	www.multiply.com

This article is about the website. For the mathematical concept, see multiplication.

Multiply is a social networking service with an emphasis on allowing users to share media - such as photos, videos and blog entries - with their "real-world" network. The website was launched in March 2004 and is privately-held with backing by VantagePoint Venture Partners, Point Judith Capital, Transcosmos, and private investors. ^[1] Multiply has over 9 million registered users. ^[2]

On Multiply, a user's network is made up of their direct contacts, as well as others who are closely connected to them through their first-degree relationships. Additionally, users are encouraged to specify the nature of their relationship with one another, making it possible to share content with their entire network of closely-related people, or subsets thereof including friends, family, professional contacts, and so on.

Multiply is also known for stronger user security than most social networking sites. Users can limit if their item can be viewed by setting security settings to Public, Private (network only), or Private (invite only) for each item on their site.

In January 2008 Multiply changed the function of music posts so that users can no longer download individual mp3 files posted by other users; instead they can download or open an iTunes playlist file and play the files from where they are hosted. This, however, is easily circumvented by opening the playlist file in a text editor and cut & pasting the individual file URL's in a browser to download them. They also changed the maximum number of mp3 files a user can upload at a time from 10 to 5, and then one month later to 3, to discourage illegal uploading of full albums.

1 Blogging Paired with Media Sharing
2 Inbox Newsfeed
3 Groups
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Blogging Paired with Media Sharing

Multiply ventures to be the one-stop shop for a user's Web 2.0 experience.^[3] What enhances their bold bid is the capability that Multiply empowers its users with. There is a blog module, of course. To go beyond that, a user can upload videos, and host them on a their page rather than a 3rd-party page. Videos can also be added from major sites, notably YouTube. The user can also upload photos into their albums, hosted in the photo module. Users may upload as many photos as they wish -- no limit. There is also a music module, a reviews module, a marketplace module, and a recipe module.

A blog traditionally follows a linear format (each entry rests above the other in chronological order irregardless of the type of content that is included in the post). Though it is possible to have a traditional style blog on Multiply, content can also be organized according to the type of post (text, video, photo, etc.) or by topic (using tagged content boxes)^[4]. By organizing posts based on type of media or topic of post, a user can essentially create a personal web page.

Multiply provides blog cross-posting; blog entries posted to Multiply can be automatically posted to a LiveJournal, Blogger or TypePad account. There is also an option to post via e-mail or MMS, enabling posting from mobile phones. Users are also able to post reviews (of movies and books, for example), and to share a calendar of events. Multiply also recently reintroduced the Marketplace and Recipes modules, which allow users to share interests in purchases, and favorite foods and drinks.^[5]

Multiply is especially flexible in that users can choose to edit their background and theme colors, but the ability to incorporate CSS makes customizing more extensive.^[6] Many users have page far different from the base theme due to their mastery of CSS.

[edit] Blogs

Blog posts on Multiply include the ability to easily change font style, type, color or size. Photos can easily be added and moved about within the blog post. A poll can be added and files can be attached. ^[7] Users can use Multiply's WYSIWYG blog editor or enter/alter html directly. ^[8]

[edit] Photos

All accounts on Multiply include the ability to add an unlimited number of photos. ^[9] In addition to being able to share photos with contacts on Multiply, users can also let non-Multiply members see even their private photos by using the "share" link. Multiply has partnered with Qoop for photo printing and other photo services.

[edit] Videos

Users can easily upload videos directly to Multiply, or they can pull video in from YouTube, Photobucket, Google Video, Metacafe, or myspacetv.com.

[edit] Calendar

Users can post calendar entries for themselves, for their contacts, their network or even for public access (enabling users to keep personal entries, such as doctor appointments, private, while allowing a wider audience for such entries as a fund raising event that is open to the public).

Users have access to an aggregated calendar on their Inbox page that collects all of their calendar entries as well as those of their contacts and displays them in one calendar feed.

Calendar entries, as with all entries on Multiply, can be discussed within the calendar entry post, enabling members to not only announce an event, but discuss it as well.

[edit] Reviews

Users can add reviews to their website, not only rating and explaining their view on the product, but discussing it as well with friends and family.

[edit] Recipes

The recipe section was a component of Multiply at the time of its launch in 2004, but it was removed for a time. The recipe and marketplace sections were returned in 2007 due to popular demand.

[edit] Marketplace

The marketplace section is designed to be a way to showcase items that a person may want to pass on to contacts or to search for an item that a user's contacts may have.

[edit] Inbox Newsfeed

Multiply has had a newsfeed since its inception, variously called the "Explore" page, "My Multiply" and the "Inbox". This feed aggregates not only the user's posts, but those of the user's contacts, network and groups as well, using technology that Multiply has patented.^[10]

This feed is highly customizable, allowing the user to set filters to show specific posts. Filters can be saved and users can easily switch between them.

[edit] Groups

In addition to networking with your "real life" friends and family, Multiply also provides a way to meet and socialize with other members through groups.

Registered users can create groups on Multiply. These groups exist outside of the "network" structure, enabling people with certain interests to share the aforementioned types of media with others who share their interests, but may not be closely connected to them through relationships.

Groups are categorized as Business, Computers & Internet, Cultures & Community, Entertainment & Arts, Friends & Family, Games, Government & Politics, Health & Wellness, Hobbies & Crafts, Money & Investing, Places & Travel, Recreation & Sports, Religion & Beliefs, Romance & Relationships, Schools & Education, Science & History, and Other.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ [1], "VCs Count on Multiply.com"
^ [2], "Multiply is Multiplying: Page Views Double to 600MM Year-over-Year"
^ Multiply Corporate Page, About Multiply
^ [3], "New tag stuff (plus bonus video option!)"
^ Multiply Corporate Blog, "New audio/video stuff. Better alert things. Generally more goodness"
^ CSS Interface, Customize Multiply Page CSS Interface
^ [4], "Featured Feature: Blog Attachments"
^ [5], "New & improved HTML editing"
^ [6], "No more limits"
^ [7], "Method and system for performing and sorting a content search"