The BuscaPe Group, a Latin America media company, has launched Wiki2Buy, an Internet-based collaborative buyer's guide. Wiki2Buy was developed through the use of MediaWiki, the same platform that is used by Wikipedia and it enables users to contribute content related to purchasing decisions. Content includes information about products, services and service providers.
Journalism students helped create the first guides.
This is a very clever concept, but still very much a work in progress. Internet users are increasing becoming interested in utilizing the web as a collaborative platform and, for the most part, seem interested in contributing content for the common good. However, it's too early to say if they will become engaged with Wiki2Buy and engaged enough to help create a robust offering. Time will tell if the time is right for a buyer's guide built on the Wiki concept. Users certainly control the destiny of this initiative. It will be interesting to see what they do.