Selectronic India Launches Criconetonline; Calls It Facebook For Cricket Lovers
Selectronic India has launched a new website for cricket lovers www.criconetonline.com that aims to unite cricket enthusiasts and fans on one platform. Criconet which is still in its BETA version, is a social networking site for cricket lovers, where cricket aficionados can exchange messages, ideas, update their cricketing status, ask cricketing questions, as well as upload cricketing pictures and videos.
The Criconet digital platform has an instant messaging service along with multiple forums and chat rooms. It allows users to create fans clubs, participate in cricket-related polling, sell and exchange treasures, upload photos and videos and even seek expert advice from coaches around the globe. In an exclusive interview with EE Veer Sagar, Founder Criconet explains all about his cricket friendly venture.
How did you come up with the idea of Criconet?
When face book took off and I saw every one document everything on face book it struck me why don't we have a similar platform but only for cricket lovers and cricket related. So we worked on this idea. Just when we thought we had a good thing the question in our mind was how do we pay for it now and ongoing. Initially was I going to fund from my savings. We talked to some IPL team management to sponsor this as a means of keeping connection with their fans in the off season. We got no traction. To get revenues we needed to get something unique and binding as well habit forming. We designed a game of cricket that is played with dice and can be played between two friends or with the system. The game had to be simple and unique as we were operating on shoe string budget. The game gave the site a unique and a possibility of getting revenues.
What is the kind of experience you are looking forward to build with the platform?
I am trying to build a total cricketing experience for every members of the family and their friends. They share their views, their experiences, their questions and use it not only as an exchange platform but also a sounding board and information gathering source. We do not provide any content. The user creates their own content and shares as per choice.
The website is still in its beta version, how long before it completely takes off?
We kept it Beta as this my first experience of designing something where the touch and feel is more important than the content. In my over 50 years of IT experience I had not done anything like this. So I wanted to get as many views and comments as possible. We are now beginning to freeze the development and hope to have a popular launch when the Australian team comes to India in September for ODI matches.
What is your USP?
The USP is that it a one shot platform for everything cricketing that one may want to see. One can pass comments, upload videos of matches you are seeing or playing exchange views , ask questions relating to cricket whether it be kit, coaching centers or advice. In addition it has a unique easy to play luck based game of cricket played with dice CRICONET -THE SUPER OVER . In this game you are as good as the next person.
What are you expansion plans in 2017? Will we see any celebrity association with it?
Our stated objective is to be a total site for cricket lovers. We have already added individual coaching where one can upload a video of bowling action or batting stroke and you get the whole of India to respond (everyone in India is a cricket expert) or get a certified cricket coach to give you advice. By end of September we will launch "distant remote coaching" where nets of cricket academies will be linked to CRICONET and a senior coach will monitor and coach. We plan to create franchisees and have back office for cricket training and support globally. We are talking to persons in Nepal, Kenya and USA .
Along with coaching we are also tying up to offer cricket medicine for aches and pains associated with cricket.
We are also tying up to offer cricket tourism both in bound and out bound from Criconet site where groups of Indians will be taken aboard to watch the matches of the Indian team in that country or bring people from outside to India and take them to watch a series in India.
We are not looking at any celebrity association unless that celebrity comes in as a coach or giving tips on the game to individual(s). Celebrity is expensive business and currently out of our budget.
When will we see the mobile app?
The site runs on mobile currently. However we have just initiated the process of converting it to a mobile app and our target for that is September along with the removal of Beta tag.
