Bebo Seals Content Deal with Samsung

Looking at the growth of mobile social networking, it was expected that something major is around the corner. And here is the news that is certainly going to be talked about in the mobile market for some time. Fast growing social networking site Bebo has found a new partner in Samsung Mobile UK that will help the latter compete with Nokia and Sony Ericsson. As per the agreement, Samsung will sponsor and provide music content for Bebo’s music homepage and also sponsor the site’s series of live music events.

E-mail and Social Networking Rule Mobile Internet

As per a recent poll conducted in the UK, it was found that 52% of wireless device users consider e-mail and social networking as the most popular activities on mobile Web. The mobile Internet usage research, which was carried out by Webcredible, included  1,132 online users between February and April this year. It was aimed at knowing what activities were performed the most, besides the traditional activities like messaging and calling.

The study revealed that 39% of the users used mobile Internet for email purposes, while 16% engaged in social networking. This means e-mailing is the most popular activity, followed by social networking.

MySpace Sees Tremendous Growth in Mobile Social Networking

The extent to which mobile phones are used today has increased enormously over the last few years. People have moved beyond the traditional communication uses of the mobile phone and now use it for various other reasons like playing games, messaging, banking, and social networking. Hence, it is not surprising that social networks are investing in mobile social networking and considering it to be the future.

Amongst the popular social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and MySpace are used heavily through wireless devices, especially in the United States and the European countries. Therefore, looking at the potential of mobile social networking, MySpace is creating a mobile presence since over two years and working towards fitting the site on smartphones and other small-screen mobile phones.

The site has been successful so far in providing mobile users similar look and feel of the site, as they experience on the desktop PCs. Moreover, the scope for mobile advertising has increased by introducing social networking features with the service, which is proving advantageous to MySpace in some manner or the other.

Users Prefer Social Networks over E-mail

Until now, checking e-mails was one of the most regular activities on the Web. But the recent study conducted by Nielsen Online has revealed some startling results in favour of social networking and blogs. According to the research firm, ‘member communities’ are accessed by 67 percent of the online audience, becoming the fourth most popular Web category, behind search, portals and PC software, and ahead of personal e-mail.

John Burbank, CEO at Nielsen Online believes that social networking has become a fundamental part of the global online experience. The results, which are based on December 2008 data, suggest that social networking has become a more convenient way of keeping in touch than email.

MySpace Banks on Mobile Service Delivery

To strengthen its position in the mobile social networking space, MySpace plans to strike deals with handset majors Nokia and Palm, making it the first ever social network to support all the major smart phones. Other than these mobile firms, MySpace applications are also supported across BlackBerry, iPhone, Sidekick and Google Android.

As social networking sites drive the use of mobile Web, MySpace expects 50% of its traffic to generate from mobile phones rather than desktop PCs. The News Corp. owned social network is also working on its mobile Web site by modifying and adding features for enhanced user experience.

O2 Embraces Bebo Open Mobile

With Bebo announcing its plan to join the mobile social networking bandwagon just recently, O2 has pounced upon the opportunity to make the most of Bebo Open Mobile, an initiative that was launched by the social networking site just over a week ago. This move makes O2 the first ever UK mobile operator to embrace the Bebo Open Mobile technology.

Designed exclusively for mobile service providers, handset makers and mobile software developers, Bebo Open Mobile offers a set of tools to its partners for delivering Bebo social networking experience to mobile users. This means O2 can now enjoy access to the program’s mobile Web, messaging and media equipments to provide exclusive mobile content to its subscribers.

Bebo Joins the Mobile Social Networking Bandwagon

Recognizing the tremendous potential for mobile social networking in the future, social network Bebo has announced plans to maximize its service availability. The new Bebo Open Mobile Programme is an initiative that provides operators with tools to allow customers access the Bebo site.

The platform not only aims to support network operators, but also handset makers and mobile software developers to increase Bebo’s mobile usage and encourage them to distribute and monetize its service. The Bebo Open Mobile partners will get access to Bebo’s 50 million plus active users and will collaborate with the social network to deliver social networking experiences and tailored content to their users.

Mobile Internet Hugely Benefiting From Mobile Social Networking in Europe

According to comScore, a global Internet information provider, social networking is playing a vital role in attracting new users to the mobile Web. As the global audience gets more and more engrossed in the digital world, social networks are bringing about a great change in the way mobile service providers and businesses are functioning today.  In November last year, 34% of mobile device users in Western Europe who visited social networks accessed social media exclusive of all other mobile Internet content.

Friendster Now Speaks Tagalog

As Friendster continues to fortify its Asian territory by expanding its operations, it is simultaneously seeking to deliver convenience and value addition to its existing members, largely the Tagalog speaking Filipinos. The leading social network in Asia has announced that the Tagalog speaking population can now avail Friendster services in their local language.

With more than 90 million people communicating in Tagalog globally, Friendster certainly seems to bank upon its new feature that will provide its users the ‘feel at home’ factor.

Message To Wireless Operators: Users Need Social Networking Desperately!

According to a recent study conducted by mobile instant messaging firm Colibria, mobile users demand social networking facility to be pushed straight to their devices to experience interactive services and communicate with their connects from a sole access point.

The research, which involved 2,000 UK-based online respondents, revealed that 39% of consumers in the age group 18-45 years believe their experience of mobile social networking would significantly enhance if the updates were provided directly to their mobile handsets.