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Mahesh Lalwani started Ccube Inc. in May 2006 after closely monitoring social networking Web sites and devising a business plan to launch a model using phone conversations. Ccube is based in Cupertino, Calif., and has seven employees. Photo courtesy of clipart.com. |
CUPERTINO, Calif. — When Mahesh Lalwani bought Thomas L. Friedman's book, "The World Is Flat," he was hooked on the ideas the famous New York Times columnist suggested. The book gave Lalwani some food for thought and set him on the path to founding Ccube Inc., a social networking company that features Internet connecting through phone conversations.
"Tom talks about 10 flattening forces that bind the world," Lalwani, 40, said. "He talks a lot about Indian companies and that certainly got me thinking."
Before reading Friedman's book, Lalwani had been closely monitoring social networking Web sites and exploring ways for people to connect a lot sooner than the existing Web sites provided. Convinced that incorporating phone conversations into the Internet social networking model was the answer he launched Ccube in May 2006.
Fast Facts
Company: Ccube Inc.
CEO: Mahesh Lalwani
Location: Cupertino, Calif.
Employees: Seven
Year Founded: 2006
Services: Social networking Web site that connects members instantly over the phone. Phone numbers are kept private and are not displayed. |
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"There are a few ways to contact people through Web sites," said Lalwani, the founder and chief executive officer of Ccube. "There are text messages, instant messaging and e-mail and after a few conversations you finally talk to the person on the other end. In some instances, it takes a few weeks for such a conversation to develop.
"We thought of providing a voice technology that will enable people to get connected right away," he said. "With emerging technologies and the rapid pace of the Internet we thought it can be possible for someone to make the call and talk to that person and at the same time be anonymous."
In August 2006, Lalwani and his Ccube team began product trials.
"We had 14 people coming together for the trial," said Lalwani, a native of Indore, India. "They were put in a complex and they began to see the profiles of other people and started communicating with them through a caller system that is routed through Ccube. In that way they maintained their anonymity."
Lalwani received positive feedback but there were issues that needed to be smoothed out. In November 2006, Lalwani called on his friends and relatives to test improved system. This time it was spread all over the United States and based on their feedback he tweaked the system again.
"Based on their feedback, we incorporated two features," he said. "We have Click-To-Call and Call Me on Ccube. The latter option is like a signature that you can add to your e-mails or add it to your profile in any other social networking Web sites."
Ccube, with its option of instant conversation with other members, opened to the public in May 2006.
"Once you are in the Web site," he said. "You create a free membership profile and you have a registered phone number and once we call you on that number we validate it. We do that to verify the authenticity of the number. Once you are set up, you can record a 15-second voice reading that becomes your online profile that others can hear before connecting to talk to you.
"Initially, we offer 30 free minutes each month. If you are interested in talking to someone who shares similar interests, all you need to do is use the Click-To-Call button. Immediately, we call the other person and if he's interested in speaking, we connect your call while both phone numbers aren't displayed. In that way we ensure the privacy of the member's phone number."
Lalwani said that once someone used up their 30 minutes of free time, they can get 250 minutes for $7 or 1,000 minutes for $20.
"You also get 10 free minutes added to your account if your friends sign up for the service using your referrals," he said.
Lalwani said having the members' phone numbers in Ccube's database can help identify any unacceptable behavior.
"Also we have member ratings," he said. "Members can rate others after a conversation from a scale 1 to 4."
The Cupertino, California-based Ccube received a shot in the arm at the recent California Tech 100 conference organized by Golden Capital Network. The company was listed as one of the 50 hot start-ups in California.
Ccube employs seven people in its California headquarters and Lalwani said they are looking at exploring Europe to expand the services.
"We will be looking at the United Kingdom and European markets," he said. "We will be definitely looking at India in the near future as well." | 
