ruralnet|online co-design site goes live! Join the consultation and help shape the future of ruralnet|online 2.0.

2008 is a special year for ruralnet|uk as it marks the 10th birthday of ruralnet|online, which was launched in 1998.

Back then, this service was delivered through £8,000-worth of IBM RAID server which had FirstClass loaded on to it. It’s come a long way since then and the charity has successfully run an uninterrupted extranet service to their users, including a telephone helpline, for ten years. This may be a record for the UK voluntary sector.

The ongoing review of alternative ways of delivering their online services has continued and, two years ago, with the emergence of the 2nd Generation of web tools (aka Web 2.0) CEO Simon Berry and his colleagues decided that they needed to diversify their technical platform.

In March this year, to coincide with its 10th Birthday, ruralnet|online 2.0 will be launched; a completely re-engineered system with all the tried a tested services delivered by ruralnet|uk, in place and whirring away on Web 2.0 technology.

ruralnet|uk are well-known for their innovative and collaborative approach to taking ideas forward and as such their objective is to involve users, past, present and future; along with the best brains in the Web 2.0 business, in the co-creation of ruralnet|online 2.0. People contributing to the consultation do not have to be hardened ‘bloggers’ or know lots about Web 2.0 - just have an open mind and provide honest input - which can be anonymous. The consultation will happen through two face-to-face focus groups and by running an open consultation/ideas exchange online at www.ruralnetonline.org.uk.

You can join in by logging in, commenting on the site or simply taking the RSS feed from the site (bottom right) and staying up-to-date with developments.

The final creation will be launched in all its Web 2.0 glory on 10 April at the collaborate|2008 event.

Notes to editors

1. ruralnet|uk is a registered charity number 1089238.
2. The formal open consultation for ruralnet|online will close on 7 March 2008.
3. Collaboration|2008 is taking place at Dunchurch Park Hotel nr Rugby.