Palo Alto,
Calif. – Ning, the provider of a
platform for users to build their own niche online social networks, has laid
off 69 employees, or 40% of its staff, and is eliminating its free offering in
favor of premium services, according to a note to employees from CEO Jason
Rosenthal posted on the company’s blog.
Rosenthal became chief executive at
Ning just last month, after co-founder and former CEO Gina Bianchini stepped
down to become an executive in residence at Andreessen Horowitz.
The thousands
of social networks built by Ning users will have to choose now whether to pay
for premium services, or shutter their networks.
Rosenthal wrote that such
premium Ning networks "drive 75% of our monthly US traffic."
Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/vido1
(PaidContent)
http://creators.ning.com/forum/topics/ning-update
http://snipurl.com/vidoz
(DMW previous coverage)
Social networks can try grou.ps – http://grou.ps