Searching for ‘social savings’ I only found Smartypig.com, this actually has to do with putting money in the bank and saving it and people can help you by contributing to your savings.
Searching for ‘social shopping’ I found several sites listed here. They basically use words like Rave, Impartial Advice, Recommend, Community, Wish list, where people in the community act as promoters for products they bought.
Searching for ‘networking discounts’ and ‘network savings’ I found that networking basically means on the web or saving on getting your computer onto the network online.
All have nothing to do with a Social Savings Networked Utility. The second search I did was the most relevant. However it requires user interaction after the sale, which I would have to argue is a weak platform. Even Wikipedia defines ‘social shopping’ as making informed decisions from information about products posted by the community. However, coupons and deals are usually researched or collected prior to the sale, so this system relies on people finding the deals and then becoming self promoters of the products they bought. And none have anything to do with creating a network where you begin to save more with the more people in your network and the common characteristics in shopping behavior you all share regardless of whether or not you actively promote your shopping behavior. Network here still just means a group of people not actually webbed together.
One site had the ability to pass coupons to friends where you gain commission from the sale if your friends buy the product. There was also a site that rewarded you for using the coupons with bigger coupons that you can cash in your points for. There is still only one degree of separation in these methods.
None of these integrated mobile possibilities. In the mobile media playground here in Beijing, China, there a system where you buy a card and get access to the discounts around the city as well as 1200 points. Each time you buy the card you get 1200 more points. These can be used at some locations like cash. The discounts you recieve are obtained by texting the store code and price of purchase to the number. A confirmaion text is sent back and you show that to the teller. There are several similar services. Again no mobile media has anything to do with a network.
