Comments on: Battle for Europe continues with translations of Facebook and LinkedIn http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/ International technology news, business & culture Mon, 21 May 2012 11:53:16 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: All good things come to an end, goodbye MySpace Netherlands http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361311 All good things come to an end, goodbye MySpace Netherlands Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:27:57 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361311 [...] a local team who knows what’s hot and what’s not in the country and throw a great party. In March I wrote: I’d thought I would never say this about a company owned by Murdoch but here we go: It feels [...] [...] a local team who knows what’s hot and what’s not in the country and throw a great party. In March I wrote: I’d thought I would never say this about a company owned by Murdoch but here we go: It feels [...]

]]> By: Former StudiVZ senior executive: “Facebook tried to buy us” http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361310 Former StudiVZ senior executive: “Facebook tried to buy us” Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:46:03 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361310 [...] German version of Facebook was launched in March, after 2000 German users voluntarily fixed the translating job in less than two weeks. Yet so far, Facebook hasn’t managed to attract a large German audience. StudiVZ had 12.2 [...] [...] German version of Facebook was launched in March, after 2000 German users voluntarily fixed the translating job in less than two weeks. Yet so far, Facebook hasn’t managed to attract a large German audience. StudiVZ had 12.2 [...]

]]> By: Oscar Cooper http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361309 Oscar Cooper Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:33:41 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361309 If I were Viadeo or Xing, I would not be scared because of the partnership of Apec and LinkedIn. Apec is half government funded organisation. Most of the people using Apec do not speak very good English but LinkedIn is available in French only. Highly skilled professionals in France do not use Apec to look for jobs. It depends on what kind of people Viadeo and Xing want on their site, if they were aiming for the high-end of the job market, they don't need to worry about this partnership. If I were Viadeo or Xing, I would not be scared because of the partnership of Apec and LinkedIn. Apec is half government funded organisation. Most of the people using Apec do not speak very good English but LinkedIn is available in French only. Highly skilled professionals in France do not use Apec to look for jobs. It depends on what kind of people Viadeo and Xing want on their site, if they were aiming for the high-end of the job market, they don’t need to worry about this partnership.

]]> By: Mark http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361308 Mark Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:24:50 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361308 Actually, I have a internationalisation pattern suitable for making ANY site good for ANY market, without any of the negative aspects that have come with the internationalisation of for example MySpace, but the space here is not enough for more than outline and besides if you want to hire me as a consult it is going to cost you. Actually, I have a internationalisation pattern suitable for making ANY site good for ANY market, without any of the negative aspects that have come with the internationalisation of for example MySpace, but the space here is not enough for more than outline and besides if you want to hire me as a consult it is going to cost you.

]]> By: Mark http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361307 Mark Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:19:08 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361307 I think that Facebook will not succeed in expanding more into European market with localized versions, since most of the apps will be in English anyway and therefore the result will be a horrendous mixture of words in two (or more) languages. They might do just as "good" a job offering a link to BabelFish. MySpace has the same problem, the local version just wrecked the site. LinkedIn's approach might prove to be the best in turn. The way these companies are handling the internationalisation issue, they might end up losing the game in Europe completely. I think that Facebook will not succeed in expanding more into European market with localized versions, since most of the apps will be in English anyway and therefore the result will be a horrendous mixture of words in two (or more) languages. They might do just as “good” a job offering a link to BabelFish. MySpace has the same problem, the local version just wrecked the site. LinkedIn’s approach might prove to be the best in turn. The way these companies are handling the internationalisation issue, they might end up losing the game in Europe completely.

]]> By: Richard http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361306 Richard Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:50:38 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361306 I share Rick's sentiment. One of the things I like about the Interwebs is the fact that I feel less like an Austrian and more like a world-citizen when using it. Sure, sometimes it's nice to have localized content, but most often than not, localization efforts like translations don't enhance a service for me. I understand the desire of a company to tap into an international market, but for many users, being able to use a service in their native tongue is not a priority. I share Rick’s sentiment. One of the things I like about the Interwebs is the fact that I feel less like an Austrian and more like a world-citizen when using it. Sure, sometimes it’s nice to have localized content, but most often than not, localization efforts like translations don’t enhance a service for me.

I understand the desire of a company to tap into an international market, but for many users, being able to use a service in their native tongue is not a priority.

]]> By: Rick http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361305 Rick Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:05:06 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/03/battle-for-europe-continues-with-translations-of-facebook-and-linkedin/#comment-361305 As a user, I have mixed feelings about localization. I really dislike the MySpace (and for instance Google) style approach when it come to forcing users into a local context by default. It totally pisses me of to visit a site I've used for so long, and suddenly be treated like a dumb 'local' instead of a world citizen and/or a member of a global community. Offering the option is one thing, assuming this is what every users wants is patronizing and alienating. Offering a translated interface is something fundamentally different from putting foreign users in their own little reservation, many US sites don't seem to get that. As a user, I have mixed feelings about localization. I really dislike the MySpace (and for instance Google) style approach when it come to forcing users into a local context by default.

It totally pisses me of to visit a site I’ve used for so long, and suddenly be treated like a dumb ‘local’ instead of a world citizen and/or a member of a global community. Offering the option is one thing, assuming this is what every users wants is patronizing and alienating.

Offering a translated interface is something fundamentally different from putting foreign users in their own little reservation, many US sites don’t seem to get that.

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