Microsoft's very own social network - Socl - is set to launch for iOS, Android and Windows Phone-powered devices this week.
In 2011, Microsoft launched Socl in beta form and the company's social networking experiment had been confined to the browser for the past few years. Socl was introduced as So.cl in 2011 and allowed users to create posts, including videos, images, links and more. However, now Socl is set to have a more extensive reach, courtesy of the new app launch for iOS, Android and WP8 devices this week.
"Socl - pronounced social - lets you create, collect and share stuff you love. From rich visual collages to short animated media and memes, express yourself through posts that take seconds to create, collect and share on Socl, as well as Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter," notes the app description.
For the uninitiated, Socl was initially known as Tulalip and Microsoft intended that the service would help people "find what you need and share what you know easier than ever."
The service is similar to Google+ in the sense that users can use posts to create conversations and begin "Video Parties." Socl also has features like "Picotale" which lets users overlay text on an image to create personalized memes. There's also the BLINK feature that enables one to create quick "Cliplets" which are similar to what is found on Instagram or Vine.
"Using BLINK or BLINK Cliplets, you can capture the perfect shot or have fun creating surprising short films to share on So.cl and your other favorite social networks," per Microsoft.
However, the apps for iOS, WP8 and Android are web wrappers that are based on the mobile browser version of Socl and do not offer additional benefits. Apparently, Microsoft has not done much on each platform except the bare minimum.
At this juncture, it is not clear what plans Microsoft has for Socl even though the company invested in animated GIF support and other creation tools earlier this year.
Socl is operated and run by Microsoft research and employees test features that may make their way to upcoming Microsoft devices and services in the near future.
While the Socl mobile app offers support for picture sharing, meme creation, notifications and responses, it has not received great initial reviews and has been called "uninspired" and "half baked." The app has received 2.9 stars on Google Play, 3 stars in the iTunes App Store and 3.5 stars on the Windows Phone App Store.
