Social networking sites make the jump to the cell phone.
Trend Description:
Social Networking sites are working hard to offer their fans new features. Now the two biggest ones, YouTube and MySpace, went mobile, providing their members with the opportunity to network on the go. Mobile services of Social Networking sites enable users to connect, share information, and access a variety of features – depending on their community.
Cases
YouTube
YouTube, which was recently bought by Google, will go mobile. This is a step which makes perfect sense, considering that many YouTube users already record their clips with their cell phones. An online service would enable the YouTube community to share their videos directly via phone. Right now the YouTube mobile service enables users to upload their videos directly from their phone or PDA. So far, YouTube supports uploads from Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile, and VerizonMySpace
MySpace teamed up with Helio, a joint venture of Internet service provider Earthlink Inc and the South Korean carrier SK Telecom Co., to allow users to access the social networking site via cell phone. MySpace Mobile is a free service, but users have to buy one of Helio’s two new, specially designed phones to access the service. Analysts predict that MySpace could be worth US$15 billion or more in the next few years. The mobile service could supposedly become another lucrative advertising venue.Hookt
Boost Mobile’s social networking service Hookt allows users to create profiles and find users with similar interests. Boost promotes its Hookt community as “an all day, all night party on your phone”. The service, which was launched last year, now has about 300,000 users, and costs 50 cents a day. Right now Boost is promoting Hookt with a contest for new members. The prize is a Dodge Charger, customized by the West Coast Customs. Registration is possible online and for members via ads on the welcome screen of their cellphone.AirG
AirG’s mobile community claims to now have more than ten million users worldwide. AirG is interconnected to more than 85 mobile operators, including Sprint, Nextel, Cingular, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, Orange, TELUS Mobility, Bell Canada, T-Mobile, Verizon and MTV Asia. AirG Mobile Community offers wireless social networking for the mass market. Users can flirt, chat, date, make new friends and host their own private party on their mobile phone.
Trend Impact:
In order to be competitive in the future it seems almost impossible for Social Networking sites not to go mobile. Mobile providers are already starting to offer their own social networking communities via companies like AirG. The mobile market is growing rapidly. More than 60 million teenagers now carry cell phones, and are willing to pay for new services. On top of that, the mobile platform is an excellent venue for advertising revenues.
Links
YouTube Mobile
1 comment:
Great post. I would add that besides the moves by 800 pound industry gorillas (carriers, fox, etc)the presence of startups in the space who are addressing the same problem strengthens this trend. services like www.vcel.net or www.t9space.com innovate to provide free mobile access to myspace.
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