Microsoft announces Vine.net

What! Another social network. Surely you jest. Nope, I don't. Today Microsoft announces the launch of Vine.

Here is the official statement we received:

Microsoft Vine is a new consumer service that will help people be in touch, informed and involved when it matters. We will inspire people to use it in their everyday lives and have built it upon the tools they use every day, incorporating familiar technologies like text messaging, email, instant messaging, mapping, search and social networking applications. Microsoft Vine is available through a closed beta beginning April 28th, by invitation only, for a limited number of people to participate. During the beta we will focus on learning, so that we can refine the service and release a first version for broad public use. To learn more, go to www.vine.net, take a quick product tour and request your invitation.

Vine is designed to keep family and friends in touch when other communication methods are either broken or not particularly efficient. Times of crisis usually involve a breakdown in mobile phone or other key communication infrastructures, and Vine is designed to withstand infrastructure breakdown and keep people connected. As a person who has lived through a natural disaster (albeit a small one) in 2000 when we had the Nisqually Earthquake here in Seattle, and had family member caught in the chaos of a terrorist attach, my brother walked home on September 11, 2001 over the Brooklyn Bridge I know first hand what it means to be out of touch with family and friends. Both during the earthquake and 9/11 cell phone service was down for hours and there was no way to communicate our whereabouts.

I've signed up for the beta. No word yet but I look forward to trying it out with my peeps!

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