Social Insider is delivered first thing every morning exclusively to BI Intelligence subscribers.
FACEBOOK MESSENGER ABANDONING WINDOWS: Facebook is shutting down its dedicated Messenger application for the desktop version of Windows on March 3rd. The application was originally released in March 2012. The social media company also planned to release its Messenger application for Mac OS X, but this now seems unlikely. “I can confirm that we are notifying people who use Facebook Messenger for Windows that it will no longer be available as of March 3,”said a Facebook spokesperson. Facebook is steadily shifting its focus to mobile. The company recently released a heavily overhauled version of Facebook Messenger for iOS and Android. (The Next Web)
THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING [SLIDE DECK]: Get ready for the Internet of Everything. We've created a comprehensive slide deck covering all the key trends and forecasts for the newest array of Internet-connected devices, objects, and systems. With the Internet powering everything from smart watches to garage doors, new opportunities for data collection, content distribution, advertising, and consumer engagement are opening up. And with PCs, smartphones, and tablets markets already nearing saturation, the Internet of Everything will serve as the foundation for the next wave of consumer electronics growth. (BI Intelligence)
LINE IS OPENING UP ITS STICKER MARKET: During a press conference in Tokyo, LINE announced that it will open up its sticker market to all would-be designers. Stickers are elaborate emoticons users can purchase from the mobile messaging app. The Japan-based app is set to launch the expanded service, called the LINE Creators Market, in April. LINE’s sticker market was previously limited to official partners. The messaging service generates 20% of its revenue from stickers, with 1.8 billion stickers sent daily. (TechCrunch)
WHATSAPP REVENUE PROJECTIONS: WhatsApp could generate around $144 million in revenue by the end of 2014, according to estimates by Sterne Agee. The mobile messaging service, which was recently acquired by Facebook for $19 billion, currently has about 450 million users. Most of these users pay an annual subscription fee of $1. Sterne Agee estimates that WhatsApp’s user base will reach 719 million by the end of 2014. The messaging service could surpass $1 billion in revenue by the end of 2017. (Business Insider)
VAST MAJORITY OF U.S. ADULTS USE SOCIAL MEDIA: 73% of adults in the U.S. use social media, according to Pew’s Web At 25 survey. However, the survey also found that social media is one of the easiest technologies to give up. Forty percent of respondents said that social media would be “not at all” difficult to give up. (Marketing Land, Pew)
HOW TO BUY A GUN ON FACEBOOK: VentureBeat has an in-depth look at Facebook’s burgeoning firearms market. A gun can be purchased on the social network in as little as 15 minutes, according to the report. Facebook strictly prohibits firearms sells, however, VentureBeat’s investigation indicated that the practice is widespread. (VentureBeat)
Here's what else BI Intelligence subscribers are reading …
THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING: 2014 [SLIDE DECK]
LinkedIn Will Become A Mobile-Majority Social Network By Year-End
Carrier Billing: Why It's Becoming An Increasingly Popular Way To Pay On Phones Worldwide
The Early Adopter Effect In Social Networks — Success Goes To Brands That Get There First
Social Media Now Trumps Search And Email For E-Commerce Conversion Rates