Comments on: Babbel acquires FriendsAbroad in cash deal

By: Steve Kaufmann

Steve Kaufmann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:34:54 +0000

We at LingQ.com, have with limited means developed a different model for language learning. We would be very interested in having it reviewed. Please register and start using the site, free of charge and tell us what you think.

We rely on our members or other content providers for learning content, and so most of our resources will remain free. We will be creating a greater differentiation between the benefits that a paying member enjoys compared to a free user.

We are also building a Youtube group where LingQ and its users can talk about their experience in different languages. http://www.youtube.com/group/LingQplaza

Steve Kaufmann

By: Allan Tan

Allan Tan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:25:35 +0000

I think learning communities is going to be a great place to start advertising on, as most products are problem solvers, and people are constantly looking for solutions… I see why people are paying $$$$ for such sites..

By: When Startups monetize! Babbel switches on paid courses

When Startups monetize! Babbel switches on paid courses — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:48:35 +0000

[...] LiveMocha also features social networking. LingQ, offers vocabulary and grammar drills. Babbel bought FriendsAbroad, while VoxSwap has video services and integrates Skype. And LearnItLists puts [...]

By: We have ways of making you talk « The Learn10 Blog

We have ways of making you talk « The Learn10 Blog — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:17:21 +0000

[...] German firm Babbel.com has just bought out British FriendsAbroad.com – but Brit owned Learn10.com is there to make you learn using the methods [...]

By: Luke

Luke — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:53:33 +0000

I am a friendsabroad/babbel “user”–meaning i signed up and tried out friendsabroad, liked it for like a day and have been too lazy to cancel my registration. i went to babbel’s site once and didn’t even like it for a day.

I agree with Sergio that better content is needed and with Micheln that a teacher component is key.

By: jas

jas — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:16:43 +0000

@jeff hock…you said it “which in retrospect seems like a dumb thing to do” to encourage your staff and users to remove the alexa toolbar…..anyway i’ve worked alexa is pretty much accurate from 30K…anything after take your guess

By: MICHELN

MICHELN — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:22:02 +0000

Please don’t fight on audience figures, only revenu matters especially during recession period. Friendsabroad and Babbel have no viable business modele right now! Learning a language is a painful process and teachers role is a key success factor that both companies seem to ignore at their risks.

By: jeff hock

jeff hock — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:41:05 +0000

Phrasebase.com traffic does more than both babbel and friendsabroad combined in the US. Yes, while compete.com only measures US traffic, there are problems with the Alexa numbers also, they are very easily inflatable, as we had a “problem” with that back when too many Phrasebase admins installed the Alexa toolbar and gave us a ranking of 46,000. We discouraged all regulars on Phrasebase from using Alexa, which in retrospect seems like a dumb thing to do.

http://siteanalytics.compete.com/phrasebase.com+friendsabroad.com+babbel.com/?metric=uv

By: jas

jas — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:41:13 +0000

Based on what i can see (which is nothing) it would be low to middle six figures maybe 300k-500k if they were extremely lucky……..

By: Mike Butcher

Mike Butcher — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:24:34 +0000

Hey guys – Look, I tried to get the sale price, but nether party were willing to play ball. My total guess, based on nothing, is that the sale was probably in six figures, but I doubt it hit seven.

By: John Dineen

John Dineen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:54:44 +0000

Just signed up to try this out. Site looks excellent – really sticky. Good luck to them.

By: jas

jas — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:20:39 +0000

You gotto be joking 500k+ profiles not users as most would be fake………have you seen the traffic to this site……….never mind compete check out Alexa,quantcast and everybody else.i think somebody is telling pork pies somehow.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:44:59 +0000

@ Mike Butcher
I think its quite funny.

But in keeping with the new spirit of brotherhood I am happy to welcome all comers. Especially Americans, who no longer have to pretend to be Canadian.

I work for an education startup, so what I am interested in is the sale price, not the traffic figures. Third party traffic figures can always be a bit flakey, whereas the sale price would give a more accurate picture.

By: greenlean

greenlean — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:54:15 +0000

That was a bit of a snarky reply Mr. Butcher! Still, checking around with available resources on the net, Mr. Playford’s overall point is still valid. LiveMocha, which has something like 1m users, has several multiples the traffic of friendsabroad at 500k users. As it is highly unlikely that someone would want to under-report their numbers, something does not add up. PR departments getting a little overzealous?

By: Babbel throws out cash to buy FriendsAbroad | Startup Meme - Technology Startup and Latest Tech News

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:42:42 +0000

[...] by the German based service, Babbel. The sum it has been acquired for remains unknown but according to reports the deal has been made in cash. The reason for this acquisition given by Markus White is simply [...]

By: Social Networking Watch

Social Networking Watch — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:14:38 +0000

Babbel Acquires FriendsAbroad In Cash Deal…

TECH CRUNCH — Nov 6 — Berlin-based language learning site Babbel, which won an undisclosed round of funding from German VCs KIZOO and VC-Fonds three months ago, has acquired FriendsAbroad, the older UK-based language community startup. The amount of …

By: TechStartups.com is a blog aimed to bring you more than just internet products or internet related companies.

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:35:00 +0000

[...] TechCrunch UK site reports that Babbel.com has acquired niche competitor FriendsAbroad.com for an undisclosed amount [...]

By: phenom

phenom — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:41:40 +0000

Nice to see some cash flow for education.

http://vidsonly.blogspot.com

By: Mike Butcher

Mike Butcher — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:29:11 +0000

Dear Andrew Playford – Maybe you better read Compete’s small print: “Compete triangulates multiple data sources, including ISP, Panel & Toolbar to estimate U.S. traffic.” These sites have never been aimed at US audiences. This is a European story. Go check a world map, it’s to the right of the US after the blue bit.

By: Sergio

Sergio — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:28:57 +0000

This kind of news proves the potential behind the industry of language learning. After growing as a huge community, they should work on creating better content for their users.

By: Andrew Playford

Andrew Playford — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:27:57 +0000

With Babble attracting @6k users per month and FriendsAbroad attracting $4k users per month (according to compete.com) who cares? If they have a joint 600k registered users but only get a combined 10k uniques per month then something is not working…

By: Babbel compra FriendsAbroad Loogic.com

Babbel compra FriendsAbroad Loogic.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:38:44 +0000

[...] lo comentan en Techcrunch. Sin comentarios Artículos relacionadosLoogic en FrancésPalabea, comunidad para aprender [...]

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:58:58 +0000

Cool to see some cash going to learning communities

By: We have ways of making you talk | Learnit lists

We have ways of making you talk | Learnit lists — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:32:45 +0000

[...] German firm Babbel.com has just bought out British FriendsAbroad.com – but Brit owned Learnitlists.com is there to make you learn using the [...]

By: Babbel adquiere FriendsAbroad

Babbel adquiere FriendsAbroad — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:12:34 +0000

[...] sede en Berlín, ha adquirido FriendsAbroad, una comunidad de idiomas con sede en el Reino Unido. El importe de la operación no ha sido divulgado, sólo se conoce que el pago ha sido en [...]