Facebook has announced that third-party developers can integrate features from web-based Facebook applications to work on mobile devices.
Most of the world uses mobile devices, and in many countries, people use phones more than they do computers. With Facebook’s audience rocketing upward around the world, this latest move could encourage higher participation, at least among people who use Facebook applications.
It comes as the company reportedly prepares New York for its new “SocialAds” ad network and tries to finalize a financing deal with either Microsoft or Google that includes rights to its international advertising. We can only assume the deal would include international mobile advertising in Facebook.
We also have to wonder if mobile ad network startups out there, like AdMob, Buzzcity and Millenial, will look more seriously at building ad networks for social network applications. Buzzcity, for example, already has experience with mobile social networks: It started in 1999 as Mygamma.com, an international mobile social network that currently has over 2.1 million active users.
However, at least one big app developer — RockYou — is choosing to focus first on integrating with other social networking platforms in order to get more users.
Web, not mobile is how Facebook’s core demographics of users in the US, Canada and the UK access the site, RockYou co-founder Jia Shen told us. Countries like China and India that are big in mobile aren’t big in Facebook.
Mobile apps may be a good way to monetize, though, Shen tells us: “Lots of people are thinking about how to run micropayments through phone bills” as high schoolers don’t have access to credit cards for doing things like buying Facebook’s virtual gifts.
Facebook users can choose to send and receive text messages from applications and otherwise poke, prod, needle, “throw food,” and perform other gimmicky actions on applications.
Blackberry owner Research In Motion has also released a customized application for the device (see screenshot).
See our separate story about Facebook’s SocialAds program.
Tags: co:Facebook, mobile2 Comments
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David said:
This is such a great idea — I already know so many people who use Facebook Mobile to update their status, get friends’ numbers on the fly, etc. I can’t even imagine where 3rd party apps on mobile will take the SNS.
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Lex Bayer said:
Another solution is Spare Change, the first micro-payments solution designed for Facebook!
Spare Change is designed to help users and developers buy and sell goods and services online securely and easily.
You’ve all built some amazing applications, from games, to gifting, to social sharing. Now there is a new way to monetize these great applications. Why not have a user pay $0.50 for an extra special gift and message, pay a $3 monthly subscription for playing premium games, donate $1 to a cause, or pay $0.25 to see how one has as been rated by friends?
Spare Change allows you, the developer, to charge small amounts of money which was previously both uneconomical and too hard for users to use. We’ve built a 1-click interface which keeps users on your applications and allows them to purchase content with ease and confidence.
My team and I have over 15 years of building enterprise grade financial services applications and we think you’ll like the product we’ve built. It’s simple, reliable, and scalable. We’re committed to building the best payment solution for social networking.
Please take a look, experiment with your apps, let us know what you think - we’re at your service.
Spare Change - the way to pay for the little stuff.
http://apps.facebook.com/sparechange/devPromo.jspLex Bayer
lex@sparechangeinc.com
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