Evite Gets Social

Social networking site Friendster.com may have a lot of friends, but now it has a new rival. Evite, a site created to allow Internet users to send out electronic invitations for events, launched a beta service Thursday that aims to take on Friendster by adding user information pages and "get together" tools.

Evite is rolling out the Evite 2.0 beta along with a site redesign and a whole new strategy. Saying that it wants to offer an online space where Net users can make the most of their time offline, the Web site is moving into the burgeoning arena of social networking destinations.

Evite 2.0 offers "My Info" pages, where users can list their personal interests, upload photos, and create personal calendars. Users are still able to perform traditional online invitation tasks, but now have the added ability to browse a public events directory and find a get-together.

More to Come

As the service continues to roll out, with the launch of the final Evite 2.0 slated for the first quarter of next year, other tools will be added, including directories of sports events and activities, the West Hollywood, California, company said.

The new service may pose a threat to Friendster, whose blazing popularity has caused a number of sites to jump on its trail.

Friendster has been moving toward a fee-based service, but it is unclear whether Evite will do the same.