WordPress to launch new social networking feature

MANILA, Philippines - Friendster. MySpace. Facebook. Multiply. Networking for pets.
Had enough?
There's more.
During Saturday's WordCamp Philippines 2008 at the College of St. Benilde in Manila, Matt Mullenweg of WordPress unveiled before around 300 Filipino bloggers the latest addition to publishing platform's already expansive features-BuddyPress, a "niche social network" that would allow users to integrate their blogs, online groups and more into extended profiles.
With BuddyPress, members could still use all the blogging features of Wordpress, but this time there are more features available, particularly on extended member profile.
According to its official Web site , BuddyPress is essentially a set of specific plugins for WordPress MU (Multi- User), with each plugin adding a distinct feature.
These include the following: an extended profile, a personal blog, private messaging, status updates, albums, groups, friends- members of the social network -and The Wire, where friends can post on each other's profile.
In an interview with GMANews.TV after the WordCamp, Mullenweg said despite the proliferation of social networking of sites, there's plenty of room for more.
"We're not trying to compete with them (other social networks) at all," said Mullenweg, adding that with BuddyPress, they are not necessarily targeting individual users but site developers.
After all, BuddyPress is available on WordPress MU, which enables site developers to maintain blog networks, universities, niche- specific blog hosts and newspapers and magazines.
Mullenweg said the project, which was spearheaded by Andy Peatling, should be launched by the end of the year.
WordPress, one of the leading blogging platforms in the world, has a large user base in the Philippines, the WordCamp's event organizers said.
Speakers from among the bloggers themselves, information technology experts and members of the academe gave lectures on blogging and various features of Wordpress during the one-day event.
Among the speakers were Jayvee Fernandez, Gail Villanueva, Hans Koch, Markku Seguerra, Elymar Apao, Kring Elenzano, Karla Redor, Danilo Arao, Aileen Apolo, Regnard Raquedan, and Mullenweg himself. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV