Internet search titan Google and athletic-gear superstar Nike have teamed up to create an online arena for football lovers, Google said.
As the FIFA World Cup approaches, Google and Nike have quietly launched Joga, an invitation-only social-network website for soccer fans and players, which offers video, information on games and players and social networking Google said.
The website: joga.com, which was designed as a home for "an online community for people crazy about football."
The name of the site was derived from the Portuguese "joga bonito," or "play beautiful," according to Google.
Joga.com, is by invitation only, and requires users to be registered with Google. The site is described as an "online community created by Google and Nike for anyone anywhere in the world who shares a love for soccer."
Logins are via Google accounts, and invitations can be received by submitting your email address on the homepage or via a Joga member. A Google Video is built into the homepage. Google expected to have joga.com open to the public soon.
Joga.com will be available in 14 languages, according to Google.
Google provided the technology and online savvy for the website, its registration, community and video technologies, while Oregon-based Nike brought sports content and access to players, according to the companies.
“Tying it all together is soccer/football, which needless to say has millions of passionate fans worldwide,” writes MicroPersuasion’s Rubel. He adds that Google is "not just moving into brand marketing programs, but branded communal marketing programs."
Joga.com includes social networking capabilities for fans to form or join games and clubs, and the ability to access athletes through Nike. Share football-related information, upload photos and video, and give updates on local matches and events.