When Yim, Rajesh, and I started the site,
our vision was to ultimately allow users to meet and chat with people they "do not" already know through the IM networks they are already part of. I've talked about the problem of meeting people
somewhat ad nauseam - but the long and short of it is, why join separate social networks, go through the whole private messaging rigamarole, when you can link up with people instantly with similar interests through IM?
While BuddyStumbler has done a great job of matching people who are mutually interested in meeting each other, we've not been able to do anything about facilitating chat on the site itself. Early, we made a conscious decision not to build the technology ourselves - but that would mean that BuddyStumbler would ultimately need to partner with one of the major web-IM aggregators (web sites that allow you to IM without your normal desktop client).
I'm happy to report that this momentous day has finally arrived! As of today, BuddyStumbler is now part of BigString. BigString has developed, among other things, a web-IM client with a unique capability - self-destructing IM messages. This unique web-IM capability, coupled with BigString's visionary approach to messaging and privacy made it clear to Yim, Rajesh and I that we had found our partner.
In the coming months, we'll be integrating an IM messaging platform into BuddyStumbler itself and in effect finally "complete" the mission that we started 18 months ago. This will mean big things for the users of BuddyStumbler and I'd like to thank all of you for sticking with us this far. Without your encouragement, we wouldn't have made it this far.
When you get the chance, check out BigString's site. If you're ever stuck in a place that won't let you use your normal IM client (at work, at school, etc.) - you can IM from anywhere as long as you can get to
BigString's website.
Thanks again and happy stumbling!
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