Sunday, December 2, 2012

400,004 Phonecards on Colnect

The number 4 is proving to be a lucky number for Colnect. Only a few days ago we announced 40004 Collectors on Colnect, and today we are happy to announce that the items on the catalogs are fast catching up on their own landmark numbers. No less than 400,004 phonecards are now available on the Colnect Phonecards catalog.
Colnect's largest catalog is showing it's strength by not slowing down. Since it's last milestone it continues to grow as more and more dedicated collectors contribute their time, effort and heart to the catalog. All of it wouldn't have been possible without the guidance of the Phonecards category coordinators, Carlos Rodriguez  [venezuelanphonecards], Karl Heinz Degener [neizi], Jorge Pablo Villegas [Jorgepablo2005], Eyüp Güçmen [kolleksiyon], and Komdej Chulapprawut [komdej] who continued in the footsteps of our previous coordinators and are assisted by a multitude of contributors and editors the world over.

A notable change that made a true impact on this last great influx in the Phonecards category is the addition of Japanese Phonecards. Cards from Japan are now a large portion of the catalog, numbering at above 80,000 cards. In the past 180 days out of the 44,018 cards added, 31,203 cards were from Japan. The Japanese cards are having an impressive presence and hopefully it will continue to prosper and get through to more collectors of Japanese Phonecards.
"Waterfalls" - Japanese Phonecard. Newly added on Colnect
"Fish in front of a firework" - Japanese Phonecard. newly added on Colnect
One of the most astounding things to see on Colnect is the enthusiasm and loyalty of it's contributing collectors community. We are very happy to see the spirit and willingness of so many contributors joining in and working together to make the best catalog possible for all collectors worldwide. Thank you all, it is truly a joint effort :)
"Save the Turtle" - Maldives Phonecard, Newly added on Colnect 
The infrastructure of Colnect itself is right there advancing at the same pace, improving the system and finding the best and most convenient ways to serve the collectors community. The method in which items are added on the catalogs is now being redesigned to an easier, faster, streamlined process. Want to weigh in with your opinion as to how you would like things done? You are welcome to join the discussion.

Colnect wants to make itself as accessible as possible, making it's features available everywhere and for all needed purposes. Colnect has now opened the Colnect API, making the information on Colnect reachable to all who wants to make an app or a program, have an idea for a product or feature based on Colnect.

"Philswis, the fine art of collecting - Globi bei der Post" - Switzerland Phonecard. Newly added on Colnect
At times there is talk of Phonecards production slowing down, but as a collectible they have proven themselves to be a rich collectible source to a devoted company of collectors. Phonecards are booming with more than 100,000 Phonecards added to the catalog since our last milestone.

"Sea Waves" - Mongolia Phonecard. Newly added on Colnect.
Want to find out how you can contribute to Colnect's fast growing catalogs as well? Come see our Catalog Contribution Guidelines help page. Want to add a new collectible category to Colnect to compete with the Phonecards catalog? Please see our More Collectibles? page.

"Joe Dominique's Interpretation of The Court House" - Netherlands Antilles Phonecard. Newly added on Colnect.

Happiest Collecting to All and a Happy Holiday Season :)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

300303 Stamps on Colnect

One of the largest catalogs with the one of the richest and longest standing record in history of collectible items has now reached 300,303 items on Colnect! As many as 100,000 Stamps were added to the Colnect Stamp Catalog since our last landmark milestone
Colnect Stamp Catalog - the latest Stamps added
Amassing that amount of information and documenting it is no easy feat and great appreciation is due to those who worked hard to achieve it, from all who contributed to the catalog to, of course, the dedicated Coordinators and Editors. A special thank you is owed to Lola22, Peti543, clodius, DarioDeSantis and fabellogo and the many contributors who sent them information to be added.


"Sprint" - 1989 Stamp from the Maldives, Newly added on Colnect
Colnect is on it's way to streamline itself even more, making faster and easier the process of contributing to the catalogs. Hopefully that will mean that soon the Stamps catalog will rocket itself even further forward, covering the majority of the worldwide abundance of stamps. Follow the process to design the most comfortable way for anyone willing to join in on the building of the catalog.
"Eagle and Dan Dare" - 2012 Great Britain Stamp
From big to small features, the Stamps catalog structure never ceases to improve itself. Attention to detail is in the heart of the Philately collectors community and that reflects on the Colnect catalog. Only in the last few months there have been changes made to the Adding Images option, Filters for Printings and Perforations, Stamps Colors, and the Catalog Order. All is done by requests made on the forum in order to listen to the needs of a growing company of passionate collectors who want to see the future of collecting happen before their eyes.


"Braunschweig Coat of Arms" - 1856 German States Stamp
Diversity of Stamp items can sometimes be overwhelming. In just the last 30 days there were stamps added from 170 different countries. The stamps cross continents from The Maldives, through Australia to Japan, as well as decades, from the 1800's, through the merry 1960's and 1970's to the latest stamps printed.
"Ibaraki: Rose" - 2011 Japan Stamp
The aspiration to encompass not only the complete sequence of world Stamps in it's entirety but also of Stamp Collectors is a common wish of Colnect as well as the collectors community. As we add in a joint effort more items, more people, we expand, we extend the passion and knowledge to others. We not only document the information but pass onward the skill and joy of collecting. If you would like to participate come see how it is done.

Happy Holidays for Everyone and Happiest Collecting :)



Saturday, November 24, 2012

New collector products with Colnect's API


Do you want to create unique products for collectors based on the unique information freely available on Colnect?

Colnect's new API enables you to query Colnect's database to extract relevant information available on Colnect. You can then use this information to offer new products to collectors. This opens a new world of possibilities.

Rock The Collectors' World
Here are some ideas for products that can be implemented using Colnect's new API:
  • Mobile applications for collectors
  • Facebook applications for collectors
  • Offline collection management software interacting with one's Colnect account
  • Online marketplaces or shops can extract updated collectible item details for sales
  • Statistical analysis applications based on unique collectors information
  • Mashup applications such as image recognition to search for an item on Colnect
  • Tools to automatically check and update Colnect's catalogs

Background

Colnect is the constant work of so many people and that's how it has become as amazing as it is today. Colnect contains unique information found nowhere else and it's easily and freely available to anyone. At the heart of Colnect are the online catalogs used by collectors to manage their personal collection and use advanced features such as Best Matches.

Colnect's catalogs are extensive and in many of the collectible categories supported they are THE BEST catalogs available anywhere in the world. They are offered in 61 languages to more than 333,333 people visiting Colnect every month. The members of Colnect currently manage about 50 million items on their inventories on Colnect.

How to Use the API

Please see the post on Colnect's forum and write us that you're interested in using the API and what you generally plan to do with the information. You will then be given more specific information and a unique API key to enable you to use the API.

Link and Search

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