Dzoic Updates Social Networking Site Building Tool

Top 20 Apps For Managing Social Media

Software development company Dzoic has released an updated version of Handshakes Professional. The PHP-based script that allows users to create a "Facebook" like social networking experience, including posting to walls, creating profiles, embedding video, and several other features that emulate the experience that people have come to expect from a social networking site.

"Solutions like Handshakes Professional will bring legitimacy to internal/business social networking activities in the corporate world" said Frank Marshall, infrastructure manager, NBTY, a nutritional supplements manufacturer, in an interview. "In our case, the ability to incorporate social networking with our customers, retail outlets, and internal staff and keep the information private could create a real, competitive advantage."

Handshakes Professional could offer benefits beyond customer interaction or creating groups for a particular, private social interest. Internal use of a social networking platform could lead to improved IT services and development.

During a panel discussion at IBM Software Innovate2011 event, John McDonald, CEO of CloudOne spoke of the importance of being able to collaborate during cloud application development projects. McDonald said "the ability for developers to be able to communicate with each other and quickly share information, while keeping others updated on their progress, will be the key to quickly developing applications for the cloud, a social type environment seems to lend itself well to the collaboration between operations and development."

Handshakes Professional has some specific compatibility requirements, including a Flash Media Server or Red5 Server for Video chat, as well as Unix/Linux Style Operating System that includes support for PHP version 4 (or higher), as well as the ability to run CRON tasks.

The 4.1 release of the Dzoic software introduces several features that will allow users to build more robust social networking websites, such as:

-- Google Maps: Available for events, classifieds, and profiles making it easier for members of a network to find each other

-- Google Translate: Allows websites to be translated into 52 languages on the fly by visitors

-- Mobile Neo Theme: Allows Members full access to the Handshakes site on the go using cell phones or other mobile devices

-- Community Area: Customers who have an active Handshakes License now have access to a dedicated community area at dzoic.com.

DZOIC Handshakes Professional is priced at $249 and includes one year of support. The company also offers installation services, a brandable version, video integration add-ons, and other plug-ins and service options.

Employees have more ways to communicate than ever, but until the mishmash of tools gets integrated, productivity will suffer. Also in the new, all-digital issue of InformationWeek: A buyer's guide to enterprise social networking. Download it now. (Free registration required.)