jaap.nl Jumps Into Google Wave

When invitations for Google Wave began circulating in early October, the usual excitement that accompanies a new Google release was mixed with a degree of confusion. The name was intriguing, but the question remained: what exactly does it do?

Google Wave describes itself as “an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration.”

“A wave can be both a conversation and a document,” its website says, “where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.”

That description may technically cover Google Wave’s abilities, but it still doesn’t give a clear picture of how it functions. Luckily, Epipheo Studios has gone to the trouble of making a short video outlining what Google Wave aims to do:

Blogger Daniel Tenner perhaps explains it best when he writes:

“Google calls Wave an ‘online tool for real-time communication and collaboration’. The way Google should have advertised Wave is: ‘it solves the problems with email’.”

But how can a tool focused on email be used to promote property listings? jaap.nl, the Netherlands’ number two ranked property portal, has come up with an answer.

A jaap.nl blog post explains that Google Wave can now allow its users to find their dream house together. House hunters add jaap.nl’s details to Google Wave, create a new “wave”, and invite their friends to give feedback on a listing they are interested in.

jaap.nl has made its own video showing how the process works:

In an interview with emerce.com, jaap.nl director Hans Voorn said that while the portal’s use of Google Wave could be seen as a gimmick, jaap.nl hopes the innovation will help to counter the current market monopoly – presumably in reference to Dutch market leader funda.nl.

It seems jaap.nl is particularly keen to stay on top of new technology offerings: it’s also one of the portals taking advantage of Layar’s augmented reality browser to promote its listings.

1. jaap.nl Informing House Hunters

   jaap.nl, the Netherlands’ number two ranked property portal, is now offering a wealth of neighbourhood facts to property hunters through a partnership with information website omgevingsscan.nl. omgevingsscan.nl provides a map-based search powered by Google Maps along with information from various databases covering everything from the population density of a neighbourhood to its soil structure....

2. jaap.nl Redesigns, funda.nl Dominates

   Number two Dutch portal jaap.nl is adding to the long list of improvements it has made over the past few months with the release of a new design. Meanwhile, funda.nl’s huge lead in the Netherlands has been confirmed by recent market research conducted by Heliview....

3. jaap.nl Investor Goes Bankrupt

   Telegraaf Media Groep (TMG) plans to increase its stake in the Netherlands' number two ranked property portal, jaap.nl, by purchasing another 40 percent....

4. jaap.nl’s Redesign Released

   Number two Dutch property portal jaap.nl has just set its redesigned website live, capping off a busy few months. The redesign follows on from the release of an upgrade to jaap.nl's iPhone app, which now offers features such as Google Maps integration, the option to search by street and city name, and highlighted agency contact details. ...

5. jaap.nl Merger With brixter.nl

   Netherlands based property portal jaap.nl has revealed plans to merge with rival brixter.nl. ...