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Global mobile messages to surpass 7.5 trillion in 2011

The number of mobile messages sent in 2011 will increase by 12.5 per cent on 2010

The number of mobile text, picture and video messages sent worldwide will surpass 7.5 trillion in 2011, according to research firm Ovum, marking a 12.5 per cent increase on the 6.7 trillion sent last year.

Facebook pips Apple with launch of Messenger

Facebook has designs on mobile messaging

Facebook has taken the wraps off Facebook Messenger, a separate mobile messaging application which has been developed by the same team that developed the Beluga group messaging application (Facebook acquired Beluga in Mar. 2011). Facebook Messenger will compete with BlackBerry Messenger and Apple’s forthcoming iMessage, in that it will provide a messaging-over-IP (MoIP) capability. However, Facebook Messenger will have the edge over both RIM and Apple in that it can provide a cross-platform messaging application, specifically for the iPhone and Android mobile operating systems, and so it will therefore also compete against applications such as WhatsApp and KakaoTalk. Facebook has stated that it is also developing Facebook Messenger for the BlackBerry.

Vodafone and Facebook to target prepay data users

The Vodafone device has deep integration with Facebook

Operator giant Vodafone on Wednesday introduced the world’s first ‘official’ Facebook phone targeted specifically at the prepay market. The device, known as the 555 Blue, will be a group wide offering, aimed at the youth demographic in both mature and emerging markets.

Can telecoms companies offer designer customer service?

Interaction with a fellow human being can help combat the dreaded customer churn

In the continuing drive towards improving customer service and encouraging self service, telecoms companies are increasingly broadening their online resources with a range of communications channels; from more prominent and detailed FAQs to customer forums where subject experts communicate with each other and exchange tips to help consumers solve problems without recourse to a live agent.

The social brand

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Maz Nadjim, head of social media at Ogilvy Group, talks about the success of social media and brand association within the market.

Growing Facebook

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Colm Long, director of operations for Facebook EMEA, talks about the origins of the social networking service and its adoption by people age 35+.

Twitter absorbs Tweetdeck in $40m defensive move

Is Twitter struggling to control its ecosystem?

Social networking heavyweight Twitter on Thursday confirmed its acquisition of TweetDeck, a dashboard application for monitoring tweets and topics on the site.

Telefonica pitches social media to LatAm masses

Telefónica was confident enough on Thursday to launch its own social networking portal across its Latin American portfolio. Telefónica, which operates as Movistar in the region, has tapped up software developer Myriad Group to provide social networking to its 13 mobile operations.

Twitter co-founder Dorsey back in charge of product

Twitter is now signing up 500,000 new users every day

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of micro social network Twitter, is returning to the company as product lead and executive chairman. Dorsey quit the CEO position in October 2008 to be replaced by cofounder Evan Williams. Some say Dorsey left because Twitter was struggling to meet demand and others because it wasn’t making money. Either way, Williams was replaced in October 2010 by Dick Costolo, who was charged with making the company generate some cash.

Facebook targets lower end mobile devices

The Facebook for Feature Phones app should work on more than 2,500 handset models from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG and other manufacturers

Social networking giant Facebook this week extended its reach to thousands of lower tier handset models with the launch of a Java-based application created by developer Snaptu.