No More Shout Box... Sorry Guys

Free service has to stop

Thanks for using ShoutMix for all these years. I have been providing free shoutboxes on the World Wide Web for over 7 years now. It wasn't long before I realized being 100% free is not sustainable. Just before ShoutMix's first birthday, it almost had to be closed.

ShoutMix has tried to work with the freemium business model ever since. Conversion rates were low with the first version. With the second version, things improved and I have had more paying customers. Fortunately, people liked the service and started paying for more features.

With that in mind, the new third version was developed to make things better for free and paid users alike. It was developed with lots of feedback from users over the course of several years. Meanwhile, my biggest goal remained: to improve the conversion rate to keep things sustainable and profitable, all while making ShoutMix a really high-quality product for everyone.

One of the most mentioned feedback was that the old free version was too restrictive. Others are less trivial, just make it better, more premium features, more powerful stuff, avatar support, real time push update, really good spam protection, support for really high traffic situations, etc.

Finally, in November 2011, the new version 3 was completed. It was launched successfully and very smoothly. It was a great moment.

During the first month since launch, the reception went really well. New sign ups are in the thousands daily. Just within a month, almost 50,000 users have signed up! Hundreds of thousands of messages posted. Over 10,000 users from Facebook. Generally, users loved the new version. The growth are massive.

So, what went bad?

The conversion rate did not go up. In fact it fell lower. Our stats show 99.93% of users either have no intention to upgrade or are just happy with our free service. Worst of all, some customers have actually stopped paying and switched to our free service! It may seems to be good news for everyone right now, but it is really bad news for all of us.

By offering too much with our free plan, we cannibalized our paid plans. Happy users did not make more paying customers. The projections are bad. Only 0.07% users are customers. These are the people who keep ShoutMix sustainable as a business. Business is the part making ShoutMix exists for everyone. If it keeps on going this way, ShoutMix will not be sustainable any more and will need to close down in the near future.

The freemium model is broken for us.

Some argued that ShoutMix can easily monetize its free service with ads. It has been tried, but the rates were terrible. Beautiful, unobstructive ads do not pay well for ShoutMix. We can probably do better with flashy popup ads, but no thank you. Our competitors do it with popup ads. But there is no way ShoutMix is going to commit such ugly sin.

ShoutMix is becoming more of a premium product. In fact it already has. ShoutMix is designed to be the best in the industry. With passion plus personal investments of time, money and labor of over 7 years, ShoutMix has outgrown the freemium model.

So where do we go from here?

I have two choices. One, allow ShoutMix to become unsustainable. This is bad news for everyone. The other choice is to stop our free service. It is becoming obvious that this is where ShoutMix should go. And so, ShoutMix is not going to be free any more.

Existing users will be able to continue using their accounts at no cost right now. The transition will begin within a few weeks. Eventually, users with free accounts will need to switch to a paying plan or stop using the service. The date is set at January 1, 2012. After this date, free accounts will stop working unless upgraded to a paid plan.

The good news is that ShoutMix will be available for only $0.99/month and will be available effective immediately. For our old version (the Classic) it will only be available in Premium package which costs approximately $1.67/month.

Existing customers are unaffected by all these changes. In fact, ShoutMix is going to be really awesome for our current and future customers. Our focus will be to make paying customers extremely happy and they will get 100% of our resources. If you are one of our customers, things are just going to get a lot better for you.

ShoutMix has always been a product with great passion. It is just unfortunate that it did not work out as a free product. We all have to move on. And ShoutMix will continue to be the most affordable, high quality and premium live chat software that everyone can use and love.

Snecx Tan December 2011

Manual HandBuk - How To Use New Interchange

1) DO NOT EXIT to SSP2/Cyberjaya if you heading to Nusaputra, Putra Perdana or Puchong.

2) Slowly, after SSP2.. under the diamond interchange, take the left to Nusaputra (sure you can see the signboard).

3) Go straight until you reach the junction.. be careful as the traffic lights are still in test mode.

4) That's all! Good luck & be safe.

Progress on Nusaputra Interchange Part 4

As of yesterday (21.12.2001), we can see the traffic light is on testing mode. Taraf Unggul really serious to ensure the interchange is ready to open for public use, in tandem with tremendous progress on Precint 3. Let's picture talk... Picture taken from Aman Putra heading to Putra Perdana.. On the left to Nusaputra Precinct 1 & 2 while Precinct 3 is on the right. Heading to Precincts 1&2... And this is great!! 3 lanes for egress hence the junction will become a bottleneck for Nusaputrans.

Progress on Nusaputra Interchange Part 3

Well... work is still in progress as of 12 Dec 2011.

1. Sub-grade complete
2. premix 1st layer complete
3. street lighting & cabling complete.. (i can see hdpe pipe at aman putra)
4. ac/dc lane complete

2005 vs 2011 (after 6 years)....

Interesting to see the atmosphere & serene environment in Nusaputra P1 still well maintain as it inspired about 6 years ago… Hope the quality lifestyle that we enjoyed now will last as long as it can.

Idea : Pergola Design

The house design in Nusaputra Precinct 1 was inspired by resort style. The best cosmetic treatment is to add pergola elements to your house. It blends beautifully with our environment & architecture, thus will enhance our resort-style concept. I was thinking to put some pictures from our Nusaputrans house but I’m worried they will sue me ; ). Nevertheless, this may give you some ideas to create your own pergola design. Have a nice day!

This is a very simple design and my best estimate is it will cost you less than RM2000 for this length Best design for our car porch.. free column but max. span is less than 6 feet End lot house owner - this is for you! ...and if you thinking to build your own pergola, this may help you.

Maintenance Office for Precinct 1

I realized most of the Nusaputrans are looking for the person in charge of maintenance issues in Nusaputra Precinct 1... This is important because you must find the right person to address your maintenance issue. I've been informed by Maintenance Office that Person In Charge is:

1. Mr. Darwin at 012-255 8766

You may shower him with a non-stop call until your issue can be resolved. Good luck!

Setia Eco Glades at Cyberjaya!

This is very interesting & proves the big boy has started looking seriously at the potential of the property market in Cyberjaya area… Just to recap SP Setia had bought 107.2ha from Setia Haruman back in March 2011. The area is so strategic, next to Cyberjaya Lake Garden & Selangor Science Park 2! The new development will consist with feature 2,437 units of super link houses, semi-detached homes, bungalows, condominiums, and shop lots. You may go to http://www.setiaecoglades.com.my/index.asp for more detail about the project.

So Cyberjaya (some called Sibehjaya - you will regret it now!) has the ingredients to become a new township that you should not ignore. With ready infrastructure & the right population (contributed by Nusaputra as well), Cyberjaya is on the right track to giving a good return to its investors!

Nevertheless, if you refer to the map below, I spotted the dotted line showing the new connection from MEX highway to KLIA! Thanks, SP Setia, your right moves will push the demand for this area.

An Evening in Nusaputra

Beautiful double rainbow (can u see?) that shapes our sky in the late afternoon...

Progress on Nusaputra Interchange Part 2

Woww.... traffic lights are in place now! This is very promising progress.

Progress on Nusaputra Interchange Part 1

At last!! This is the moment of truth! The most anticipated interchange in Malaysia has shown some progress after a long… long…. journey. From my naked eye observation:

1. An underground cable for traffic light has been installed.
2. Extra 2 lanes for Nusaputra residents (Precincts 1 & 2)
3. Extra 2 lanes heading to Aman Putra & Nusaputra Precinct 3
4. Beautiful road island just before we enter Nusaputra

Okay now…what are the pending works before we can see it’s officially open?

1. Traffic light (Taraf Unggul, please gives an extra green light time to Nusaputrans!). We want the interchange to benefit the most to us!
2. Street lighting, double arm, 30 m interval
3. Rectification works on the damaged road surface
4. Road signage

Meantime, to all motorists please slow down when you take the junction. Please give a face to us, Nusaputra residents. We have to wait patiently before we can cross safely. My best estimate is the interchange will open by this coming December or for sure before General Election… trust me.

Precinct 3 in Progress?

Some pictures of Precinct 3 which is currently in progress. Looks like the mock-up unit is almost ready, while another row is still in the superstructure stage. Obviously, it's 3 story building, and looks like the mini pool (jacuzzi?) is at the top of the roof! My understanding is not open for sale yet... I’m sure we’re so nervous about the price tag for this luxury house!

An aerial view of Precinct 3.. the house get in shape now. Another close-up view

Property Bubble In 2012 Unlikely, Says Chor

reference : http://thinkproperty.com.my/realestate/ThinkBlog/Property-Bubble-In-2012-Unlikely-Says-Chor.html

This may good news for genuine buyers, especially for the youngster who are looking for their first house! Sorry to the speculator, 10% tax will eat your margin and killing you appetite too! Let see how it goes...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is unlikely to experience a property bubble next year, as several measures have been introduced to curb soaring real estate prices, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said.

He said in the 2012 Budget, the government reviewed the real property gains tax (RPGT) by increasing the rate for properties disposed of within two years of purchase to 10 per cent from five per cent.

"I would think the 10 per cent is a realistic percentage because we do not want to slow down the property and construction industry," he told reporters on the sidelines of the FIABCI Asia Pacific Real Estate Congress 2011 here today.

"At the same time, there would not be much room for speculators to try to speculate and make money from buying properties and then flip it in a very short time.

"There is stabilisation of prices, there is not going to be a property bubble," Chor said.

Other proposed measures include a 100 per cent stamp duty exemption on loan instruments for purchase of houses under the 1Malaysia Public Housing Scheme (PR1MA) and 100 per cent loan financing for first-time buyers.

The government will also raise the limit on house prices under the My First Home Scheme from RM220,000 to RM400,000 beginning January 2012 and extend the tax incentive period to five years for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Despite the downtrend in the property sector this year, Chor said developers are continuing to build.

"This year we have come out with the most number of licences to developers to sell and to advertise," he said.

The property sector contributed 7.8 per cent or RM30.5 billion to the national gross domestic product (GDP) last year. - Bernama

Map To Nusaputra

This is to answer the query from Syafiq. Please refer to the map below.. cheers mate! A key map of Nusaputra (A). This is the route if you coming from MEX (KL-Putrajaya) Hiway Once you exit from MEX Hiway, keep right heading to KLIA (not Cyberjaya/Putrajaya) Nusaputra also accessable from ELITE (Kota Damansara/Subang/Shah Alam/Putra Heights/KLIA/Nilai) ...and also from LDP hiway!

Taxi Service to KLIA / Other Place

Hj. Yusof, one of our residents in Nusaputra is offering his taxi service to KLIA / LCCT / other places. You may contact him at 017-611 5843 (a correction number has been made).

Catering Service for You

I've received this from our neighbor in Nusaputra. For those who are looking for "budget catering services, you may be interested to look into it.

CATERING BUDGET

KHUSUS UNTUK PENDUDUK NUSAPUTRA , PUCHONG

PIHAK KAMI MERUPAKAN KONTRAKTOR BUMIPUTERA MEMBEKAL MAKAN BERMASAK SECARA ISLAM DAN SERING MEMBEKAL MAKANAN KE BADAN-BADAN KERAJAAN .

KINI , KAMI ADA MENAWARKAN PERHIDMATAN CATERING UNTUK PENDUDUK NUSAPUTRA BERSESUAIAN DENGAN KEADAAN EKONOMI SEMASA ANDA.

HARGA DI TAWARKAN DARI SERENDAH RM 8.00. MENU MAKANAN ANDA CADANGKAN , KAMI HANYA BAGI HARGA BERPATUTAN.

MINIMUM PESANAN DARI 50 ORANG SAHAJA.

BERMINAT? BOLEH TERUS MENGHUBUNGI

NO 17 JALAN NUSAPUTRA 1 / 2D

ROSNITA : 019 – 645 1019

NAZRI : 012 – 358 6003

SETIAP HIDANGAN PERCUMA : AIR KORDIAL & BUAH-BUAHAN