"WAYN's World": Travel Friends Reunited

About
Where Are You Now? aims to keep you in touch with your contacts as they move from one place to another by providing a colour map of their whereabouts. As a member, you can contact your friends via Web-based email and SMS, upload pictures and diaries of your travels, inform friends of travel accommodation and contact details through the Web site or meet new people from around the World.   
   
The Founders: Peter Ward & Jerome Touze
I am passionate about Networking & Online Networking. I am quite visible, and always keen to try websites which offer a new concept and/or interface.
Peter and Jerome had an excellent idea: there are so many backpackers who would like to meet new people, share their experience, and keep in touch after their trip(s).
Please find HERE an interesting article/interview from Peter, dated 2003.
 
Key facts
* Launched in September 2003
* WAYN: Where Are You Now?
* Main nationalities: America, English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Australian, Canadian, "Kiwi"
* Business model: 3 kinds of membership (Free, Full, Exclusive VIP) + SMS service + special offers from third parties
* Members: they claim more than 3.25 million registered members
* Turnover: more than £1million a year
* More than 16,000 people are signing up everyday

My remarks
Please find below my comments after trying the interface for 30 minutes only. The founders did a good job to urge their members to subscribe for a full membership thanks to very limited features for free.
If you don't subscribe
First, if you do not pay your membership, you can't do much!
* You can send "Hello" messages for free
* You can send a standard eCard
* You only have 1Mo of storage
If you subscribe
I was impressed by the number of VIPs, which means you don't really get to be on top of the first page...
* You can send real/personalized messages
* You can send personalized ecards
* You can create a blog ("WAYN List Beta" service)
* You can send SMS