MetaChat - Is there a web service that can do this?

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26 October 2006

Is there a web service that can do this? →[More:]So I'm on the board of alumni for my former summer camp. We need some sort of MySpace-like page, but NOT MySpace. It would have the following features:

-be free or cheap
-allow participation by invite or approved registration only
-not be an email list (so not YahooGroups)
-not require creating a profile (so not Vox)
-allow posting of photos
-allow threaded discussion

Any thoughts?

post by: Miko at: 13:37 | 11 comments

Hmm the threaded discussion is the one that has me stumped - to me that's more forum-based than blog-based. Livejournal is the only one that I can think of at all with threaded and they require reg. Does movable type offer threaded as an option?

posted by iconomy 26 October | 13:43

I've heard good things about wordpress.

posted by pieisexactlythree 26 October | 13:46

phpBB seems to be popular software for doing this; for your purposes, it sounds like you want to find someone offering/selling hosting on a phpBB server.

posted by Triode 26 October | 13:50

What's the difference between creating a profile and just registering for an account?

posted by box 26 October | 13:53

Have you looked at free forums? Like proboards or forums for free? They have all you want and more. Sometimes they'll have a banner ad at the top of your forum pages to offset their costs though.

You can option to allow open posting, which means that anyone can come along and post, with no registration process at all. Or you can have people register via email. No actual profiles have to be filled out.

posted by iconomy 26 October | 13:57

What's the difference between creating a profile and just registering for an account?

We just want to keep it simple. We don't want people to be prodded to fill out a bunch of fields and turn it into a social networking game.

posted by Miko 26 October | 14:02

MyFamily does this; it's really, really simple to use and I don't think it's all that expensive, although I don't really know. It has the advantage of being private, which is important for some people.

posted by mygothlaundry 26 October | 14:39

It seems to me that forums might be the way to go.

posted by box 26 October | 14:43

The free version of Basecamp would probably suffice. Plus you'll have file-sharing and calendars.

posted by blag 26 October | 21:29

Yes, Basecamp, except to get photos and other stuff (like multiple Writeboards) you'll need the $12/mo. version. If the photos don't need to be private you could combine a free basecamp with a cheap Backpack.

You might also look at the competition like ActiveCollab.

And in lieu of phpBB there's Vanilla hosting services, or you could create your own.

posted by stilicho 26 October | 22:17

Oh, also: Jotspot and grou.ps are worth looking into.

posted by stilicho 27 October | 03:44

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