Some VoIP applications ARE failing on Facebook!
Stuart Henshall surfaced a couple of links this morning showing that VoIP apps are failing on Facebook. I'm not sure how iotum ended up on that list, since we're not actually a VoIP app, but you know Stuart's absolutely right and the outcome was predictable. The vast majority of VoIP applications on Facebook are simple click-to-call minute stealers. The vast majority of Facebook users are in the US and Canada, where per minute calling costs are approaching an all-time low. The majority of Facebook users are students — mobile phone users — as well. In fact, 27% of Facebook users are users of Facebook mobile. So it's not really a surprise that minute stealers are having a tough time. In fact, I'll go further — anybody who believes that users will really fire up a PC and log into Facebook to make a call when you can just pick up the phone and call for pennies, is deluding themselves.
There are communications applications on Facebook, however, which are succeeding. Value added applications, in particular, are carving out a niche. These are the applications that the Voice 2.0 Manifesto predicted would be the successors to the minute stealers. The conference calling and anonymous calling services, for instance.
Stuart's data was a little bit out of date, relying as it did on a month old post from The Latest Geek Stuff. Here's an up to date list of current communications applications and usage on Facebook, from Appsoholic.
For what it's worth, our FREE Conference Calling application is hitting its stride as the viral effect kicks in. We're currently adding over 2,500 new installations per day. As of a few hours ago, we passed 20,000 installations. And, we moved into the number three spot on this list today, passing SkypeMe.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Great goal Alec, you guys deserve it.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
[...] Some VoIP Applications ARE Failing on Facebook! [Saunderslog.com] Click-to-call VOIP applications (”minute stealers”) are failing on Facebook because calling costs are low and no one wants to log into Facebook to make a call. But value-added apps like Conference Calling are where its at. [...]
November 20th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Your point on the “minute stealers” was bang-on. As I have written many times, innovative applications - like easy click through conferencing, presence-based intelligent communications - are potential winners.
I cringe when I hear people say that they are investing in VoIP gear, or doing somersaults to save money. Save money compared to what?
November 20th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
:)
November 20th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Hi Alec:
I added iotum to the list as a voice application and not as a voip application. You are right; it doesn’t belong to the voip application list. Nevertheless, part of the reason I added iotum was because I felt this had a potential to be a niche app for group voice communication.
I can see you guys are growing great. Keep up the great work.
Wondering if you guys have any plans for OpenSocial. I guess conference is a great application for enterprise and business users. Should be a great fit for sites like LinkedIn
Cheers,
Omfut
http://www.latestgeeknews.blogspot.com/
November 20th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
[...] “The majority of Facebook users are students — mobile phone users — as well. In fact, 27% of Facebook users are users of Facebook mobile,” writes Saunders. [...]
November 21st, 2007 at 7:43 am
Omfut — OpenSocial is a great initiative and we’re looking at it quite seriously. For now, our main focus is on getting our Facebook experience right before taking on a new platform. Stay tuned!