While for computer programmes beta versions are always recognizable as test versions which need further development, web applications can be constantly up-dated – in other words, on web 2.0 everything remains „beta“:

• Devices and applications keep connecting themselves to the internet.
• Internet applications are not software artefacts anymore but they become permanent services.
• New features are permanently being introduced, becoming part of the everyday „user experience“.
• Users become real time testers, their behaviour informs about the quality of the product update.
• Shorter „time to market“.
• Reduced risk.
• Closer bond with the user.
• Real time data for taking quantifiable decisions.

„Release early and release often“.

Short software cycles are the critical factor of success on Web 2.0.

Comparison of the Release Histories of Microsoft Windows and Flickr.

(According to O’Reilly: Web 2.0 for Participation)

The most successful web offers are those whose users take care of the contents themselves:

• Web 2.0 collects data.
• Dynamic categorisation by means of tags (headwords according to subjects and contributions).
• So-called Tag Clouds are created of the tags which display the content of a website according to the current users’ behaviour.
• Bookmarks are not ordered into categories anymore but rather provided with tags.
• The most successful web offers are those whose users’ take care of the contents themselves.
• Amazon has gained from its rating function and the selling of used books (from users for users)
• Users want to work.
• Rating sites are increasing in an over-proportionate way.
• Every second one blog is being created somewhere in the world.
• The more participants, the better the offer.
• Data and contents are at the core (Data is the next Intel Inside).

Administer bookmarks with Del.icio.us.

Administer bookmarks with Mister Wong.

Rating sites are increasing in an over-proportionate way.

The more participants, the better the offer.

Data and contents are at the core.

(According to O’Reilly: Web 2.0 for Participation)