 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group theLounge.com.au Major Keary majkeary@netscape.com.au |
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A interesting Web site was launched in January, theLounge.com.au, which is described as, "an entertaining and informative destination site developed by women specifically for Australian women" in response to the "dearth of local, original online content relevant to Australian women".
By the end of this year it is likely that women will make up half of Australia's Internet-user population, and so it should be. However, while that trend is not being matched generally by the number of sites that cater for women's interests, there has been one notable development: theLounge.com.au
According to the founder and CEO of theLounge.com.au, Julie Tylman, in 1997 women made up 20 per cent of the Australian online community, and in 1998 they represented 37 percent. In spite of that substantial, and growing, proportion there has been "a severe lack of relevant content produced domestically for this audience". Julie Tylman also makes the point, "Women are time poor and rather than randomly surf the Internet, they tend to gravitate towards sites that provide resources, topical information and entertainment. There are not many web sites that can offer this variety, especially not in any sites designed for Australian women."
The site is designed to provide content, community, and online services aimed at helping Australian women improve the quality of their lives by bringing convenience to their desktop. It features specific information channels on key subjects including pregnancy and parenting, home, living and entertaining, and body and skin care. Development plans include channels on finance, careers, health and fitness, fashion and style, books, and food and wine.
Julie Tylman - a six-year veteran of the burgeoning US technology sector and an equity research analyst for Merrill Lynch in Silicon Valley - has assembled a team of women with impressive backgrounds in finance, marketing, and publishing. This is no flash-in-the-pan venture; it has been carefully planned by a world-class management team. It certainly looks interesting.
Reprinted from the April 2000 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
