The Messaging APP market and its future potential.

The growth of messaging apps has been huge over the last few years, changing the way people communicate with one another. In this guest post, Felim McGrath, Senior Trends Analyst at GlobalWebIndex, takes us through the current messaging app marketplace.

Chances are, if you’re reading this then you have a messaging app installed on your smartphone. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, WeChat – these apps have helped change the way that digital consumers communicate. Facebook has been the big winner here. The company’s purchase of WhatsApp allowed Zuckerberg & Co. to pursue a dual-pronged growth strategy – while Messenger made the biggest impact in mature markets, WhatsApp has become the messaging app of choice in most emerging markets.

There are some exceptions to this global picture: KakaoTalk is the most popular chat app in South Korea, while Line dominates in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. And as we will discuss later, WeChat’s popularity in China is almost unparalleled. But with 36% of digital consumers using Messenger and over a third WhatsApping, the control that Facebook has on this booming market should not be forgotten. (Facebook may claim WhatsApp has more users, but the impact of multi-device WhatsAppers with multiple accounts is clearly skewing the figures here).

One app that barely registers on a global level, however, is Snapchat – only 7% of global internet users are Snapchatting. But the reason this app causes so much discussion is its success in certain mature markets and, crucially, among certain key demographics. Look at teens in the UK/USA - over 40% are using Snapchat.

But this direct comparison of messaging apps ignores the diversification that is happening with the industry. One way to see this clearly is to compare GlobalWebIndex’s data on specific activities undertaken on these platforms. So, for example, in the last month about half of Snapchat users say they have sent a photo via the app but among WhatsAppers this figure is nearer three quarters.

This might seem surprising, considering Snapchat was an app founded for photo-sharing. But the reality is that these two apps are engaged with in different ways. WhatsApp has stayed close to its roots as a streamlined communication platform, while Snapchat continues to broaden its features to resemble a fully-fledged social network, adding live feeds and content as well as pushing video functionality. As a result, Snapchatters can now do so much more than just share photos. In contrast, WhatsApp’s one-to-one or group messaging functionality means that chatting and photo sharing remain at its very core.

This contrast can also be seen when we look at usage frequency across these apps. WhatsAppers are in fact much more likely than Snapchatters to be daily users (over three quarters are, vs. less than half of Snapchatters). For most users, WhatsApp has become an SMS substitute and as such a daily essential, while Snapchat has become a social network that some engage with obsessively but many are browsing passively or checking infrequently.

These differences mean that, as in the social networking space, a range of platforms will be able to thrive and grow alongside each other in the messaging app marketplace. And for an indication of just what impact apps like these can have on the digital landscape, we only need to look to China and the phenomenal success of WeChat. Two thirds of digital consumers in China are using WeChat, taking advantage of its broad functionality that facilitates everything from online shopping and VoIP calling, to restaurants reservations, taxi-hailing or doctor’s appointments.

Other messaging apps are taking note of these developments. In particular, the launch of Facebook's Messenger Platform displayed the platform's plans to expand its functionality beyond simple peer-to-peer communication and take advantage of the healthy revenue streams that can be opened by facilitating services. Its recent integration of Uber, with Messenger users able to call a car via the platform, is just the first of what will no doubt be a broad range of partnerships. The race is on to make the ‘WeChat of the West’ and, like it or not, Facebook is in the lead...

Source: we are social

Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)

Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) (also called Bluetooth Smart or Version 4.0+ of the Bluetooth specification) is the power- and application-friendly version of Bluetooth that was built for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The power-efficiency of Bluetooth with low energy functionality makes it perfect for devices that run for long periods on power sources such as coin cell batteries or energy-harvesting devices. The smart part is the native support for Bluetooth technology on every major operating system, for easy mobile application development and connectivity for cloud computing and the social economy.

What it means for consumers

Bluetooth with its low energy functionality powers the Internet of Your Things. You wake up and go for a run with a heart rate monitor that communicates with your smart watch, then listen to music through your shower head. You unlock your doors, set the temperature, turn on the lights and control your TV using the smartphone or tablet you already own. All these wirelessly connected devices make your life richer through the convenience, empowerment and freedom of Bluetooth technology. 

Developing with low energy and Bluetooth

Bluetooth makes it easy for developers and OEMs to create innovative new products that communicate with the billions of Bluetooth enabled devices already in the market. Bluetooth with low energy is inexpensive and developer-friendly, with a flexible development architecture that means you’re only limited by your imagination. And as a Bluetooth SIG member, you can tap into a network of tens of thousands of application developers, device makers and service providers.

Key features of Bluetooth with low energy include:

• Industry-standard wireless protocol that allows for multi-vendor interoperability
• Ultra-low peak, average and idle mode power consumption that gives the ability to run for month(s) on standard coin-cell batteries
• Standardized application development architecture that leads to low development and operational costs
• Allows for some of the tightest security in the industry with 128-bit AES data encryption

Learn more about the security in Bluetooth with its low energy features.

Market advantages

Reach a wider audience by leveraging a proven and ubiquitous ecosystem of billions of Bluetooth enabled devices in a growing market

• Generate new profit opportunities by quickly developing innovative wireless devices to meet changing consumer demand
• Increase revenue and customer loyalty with engaging applications that make your products more useful via cloud computing and social connectivity

The Bluetooth Core Specification also includes Version 2.1, referred to as Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR), and Version 3.0 or Bluetooth high speed technology.

- See more at: https://www.bluetooth.com/what-is-bluetooth-technology/bluetooth-technology-basics/low-energy#sthash.a72zG5yZ.dpuf

Best Practices for Implementing Global IoT Initiatives.Key Considerations for Launching a Connected Devices Service

Vending machines connected to a network lower the cost of service and increase margins. Cars connected to a network allow for customized insurance plans based on driver behavior. Sensors in the home connected to a network enable remote management of heating, lighting, and security. Doing business today requires that you connect with your customers everywhere, on any device, and all the time. That’s the promise of The Internet of Things (IoT) deployment. IoT doesn’t change the business you’re in, but it does change how you do business. It means evolving your business into a connected service business. Becoming a service business enables you to create and deliver a host of new experiences for your customers, automate previously manual processes, drastically reduce response times for critical operations, understand the state of your business in real-time, and make more accurate predictions about where it’s going. An IoT business model typically has three, distinct continual facets: Launch, Manage, and Monetize. An IoT lifecycle is continuous, as you continue to launch new services, or launch additional devices, constantly mange connectivity and costs, and continue generating revenue. 

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Source: Jasper

43 Percent of Organizations Are Using or Plan to Implement the Internet of Things in 2016

The Internet of Things (IoT) will move toward mainstream adoption in 2016 for many industries, according to the findings of a recent survey by Gartner, Inc. The online survey was conducted in November 2015 among Gartner Research Circle Members and included responses from 465 IT and business professionals spanning 18 business sectors in North America, EMEA, Asia/Pacific and Latin America.

“However, we are poised for a marked shift in focus toward customer-facing benefits for planned IoT implementations, positioning IoT as a key competitive marketplace weapon going forward”

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Although less than a third (29 percent) of responding organizations are currently using IoT, an additional 14 percent are planning to implement IoT in the coming 12 months, with an additional 21 percent planning to implement after 2016. In other words, the number of organizations adopting IoT will grow 50 percent in 2016, reaching 43 percent of organizations overall. In aggregate, the majority of organizations (64 percent) plan to eventually implement IoT. However, it is also important to note that another 38 percent have no plans to implement IoT, including 9 percent that see no relevance whatsoever in the technologies.

"While there is near universal acceptance of the importance of the IoT, less than a third of organizations surveyed were actively exploiting it," said Chet Geschickter, research director at Gartner. "This is largely because of two reasons. The first set of hurdles are business-related. Many organizations have yet to establish a clear picture of what benefits the IoT can deliver, or have not yet invested the time to develop ideas for how to apply IoT to their business. The second set of hurdles are the organizations themselves. Many of the survey participants have insufficient expertise and staffing for IoT and lack clear leadership."

Industry adoption also varies widely with heavy industries such as utilities, oil and gas, and manufacturing leading adoption, and service-oriented light or "weightless" industries lagging. Gartner estimates that slightly more than half (56 percent) of businesses in asset-intensive "heavy" industries will have implemented IoT by the end of 2016, and approximately one-third (36 percent) of "light" or "weightless" will do so.

For those organizations that have already implemented IoT, the focus has been on internal operational improvements over external customer-facing objectives. To date, the primary business case for IoT is internally focused, namely improved efficiencies, cost savings and enhanced asset utilization (52 percent of total) versus the externally facing IoT benefits of enhancing customer experience or increasing revenue (40 percent).

"However, we are poised for a marked shift in focus toward customer-facing benefits for planned IoT implementations, positioning IoT as a key competitive marketplace weapon going forward," said Jim Tully, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "The survey shows a dramatic jump in focus on customer experience, doubling in nominal terms from 18 percent to 34 percent. This indicates that we can expect a much higher IoT focus on end customers during the next 12 months. In effect, IoT programs and processes will become competitive marketplace weapons starting in 2016."

The survey found that the biggest IoT technology challenges for those that have already implemented IoT are cybersecurity, integration and managing business requirements. However, orchestration of workflows and processes looms as a major concern for those planning to implement IoT.

"2016 will be a very big year for IoT adoption. We are starting to see a wide range of IoT use cases across virtually all industries. But, the big challenge now is demonstrating return on investment. Executives need to validate the contribution that IoT can make in order to justify large-scale rollouts," said Mr. Geschickter.

Additional information is available in the report "Survey Analysis: Early Adopters of Internet of Things Poised to Make 2016 the Year of the Customer." More information on IoT implementation can be found in the Gartner Special Report "The Internet of Things," which looks at the necessary steps to building and rolling out an IoT strategy.

Source: BusinessWire