Service: eCirkit

What it is: A social networking/aggregation site with attitude. eCirkit bills itself as a social networking site for "artists, speed- and thrill-seekers, non-conformists, [and] extremophiles of every variety." Members can create a desktop that aggregates personal content, such as pictures, profiles and videos posted to other sites. They can also send emails, IM, share RSS feeds and talk in forums.

Failings: Attitude will only take you so far. While eCirkit does a lot of different things, it fails to execute any of them very well. Its executive team appears to lack a strong technology background.

Strengths: Well-defined user community strengthened by online contests and other cool events.

'Net Views:

Dan Tynan, PC World: "The service is easy enough to set up and use, but the result looks like AOL circa 1989 -- a series of cluttered, overlapping windows and crude widgets."

Management: CEO Bradley Farrell. Company has received $1.9 million in angel funding.

Related prediction:

• Prediction: eCirkit will shut down its social networking service by Jan. 1, 2009

Other related content:

• Slideshow home: Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)

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