Yahoo! launches Kickstart college social networking service

Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) is at the launchpad again. This time the internet stalwart is launching yet another social networking service [subscription required]. Like the flavor of the month, the term "social networking" is causing some venture capitalists, startups and yuppie bankers to lay out the red carpet in terms of cash and media attention. Ever heard of MySpace or Facebook? It seems these names continually revolve in the tech media. Enough -- where are the business models designed for revenue growth? MySpace has one as in its partnership with Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) at least, but do these sites -- including MySpace -- rely too much on teen and tween fad?

In this respect, Yahoo!'s latest launch, Kickstart , seems a bit different to me. This social networking is designed to get career help for college students and alumni (as oppose to helping tweens talk about belly rings and hair colors). How did Kickstart come about? Well, a relatively new product innovation group within the Sunnyvale, Ca. company came up with this one. From initially looking at it, this social networking concept has some gumption behind it. Networking is a core asset to any student, corporate employee or leader, and this new launch appears to be squarely in that arena.

Kickstart connects college students with business professionals inside a network designed to help those students get placement as interns, help with job prospects and interviews and the mother of all worries for many twenty-somethings: career advice. This is a social networking launch that actually seems to have some solid base as a business model, as opposed to the finicky and trendy "let's meet up and talk" mantra of many social networking properties. I'm quite sure Yahoo! hopes this one will become a home run.