According to a report from eMarketer (http://dtn.fm/3NkPd), the number of global smartphone users is expected to surpass two billion this year, and this growth is just the beginning. By 2018, the research firm suggests that over one-third of consumers worldwide – roughly 2.56 billion people – will be using smartphones to access the internet, communicate with friends and make purchases. Alongside the proliferation of smartphones and other mobile devices, digital communication is most certainly on the rise. While the early part of the decade was defined by an uptick in social media usage and texting, the latter half seems destined to redefine the way individuals communicate through the development and evolution of messaging apps.
In a 2015 report, Contently (http://dtn.fm/gS0B4) gave some insight into the rapid and pronounced growth of the messaging app space. In total, six of the top 10 most used apps on the global stage are categorized as messaging apps, and these same apps topped the charts in terms of app sessions. Critically, leaders on the global app sessions charts offer a number of extensive services to users that are specially designed to keep the apps at the forefront of their respective audiences’ attention. Tencent Holdings’ (OTC: TCEHY) WeChat, for example, combines messaging, group messaging, voice calls, games, payments, food delivery and taxi services into an approachable, intuitive interface.
Regional powerhouses such as Japan’s Line and Korea’s KakaoTalk offer similar versatility to Tencent’s flagship offering, and all three are beginning to eye growth on a more international stage. In a New York Times article published earlier this month (http://dtn.fm/I3vKy), Line, which is owned by South Korean online portal Naver (OTC: NHNCF), reiterated intentions to raise about $1 billion in listings in New York and Tokyo ahead of a potential summer IPO. If this funding comes through, it would value Line at more than $5 billion, making it the biggest market debut for a technology company this year.
Of course, the rapid adoption of messenger apps isn’t exclusive to international markets. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) kicked off the proverbial gold rush when it acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in May 2011. Social media giant Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) has also taken strides toward establishing a foothold in the market. In 2014, the company made headlines when it unveiled a forced split of its social media app from its Messenger app, which is currently the third most popular messaging app in terms of usage. Facebook bolstered its position in the burgeoning market with its $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp that same year, putting it at the head of the class in an increasingly crowded messenger world.
Despite the dominance of major players in the messenger space, it’s important to note that users are still willing to try new entries in the market. In a 2015 study by Global Web Index, active Snapchat users between the ages of 16 and 64 were polled to determine how many used multiple apps to communicate with friends and family, and the results were promising for companies hoping to break into the market. As many as 72 percent of Snapchatters also use Facebook Messenger, 54 percent also use WhatsApp and 51 percent also use Skype. In other words, if an app offers an enticing feature set or user base that can’t be found on other offerings, users are proving more than willing to cross brand lines.
I’m XAM, LLC is a debt-free, 100 percent privately-owned company working to unveil its real-time collaborative Extensible Application Messenger, which is being designed to refine and repurpose the way people communicate in the mobile space. The ambitious platform combines the private and group messaging capabilities of Twitter (NYSE: TWTR), known as Qme and Circle on the I’m XAM app, with a number of exciting new features, such as a polling mechanic, quick and easy invitations and digital business cards. Currently under development for both Android and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iOS devices, I’m XAM will be available to download for free, and it could be the next app to make a major splash in the messenger market.
The first order of business following the release of I’m XAM will be to build a user base, and the company has already unveiled plans to do just that. Key portions of this strategy include expanded marketing efforts in EMEA, Asia, Japan and the Americas, as well as additional development work, such as adding multilingual support, which will play a role in increasing the platform’s marketability on the global stage. Unlike many of the messenger apps currently on the market, which often depend on download fees or third party purchases for monetization, the free I’m XAM app will implement groundbreaking monetization features designed to create less obtrusive revenue streams. As stated in the company’s product overview, I’m XAM will ‘do things differently’, and that could be a great recipe for success in the rapidly evolving messenger app marketplace.
For more information, visit www.imxam.com
