Google gets into mobile social networking
Link: Google Buys Mobile Social Networking Site
Google has brought “certain assets and technology” of the mobile phone based social networking site, Zingku for an undisclosed amount. Zingku says that it was started in 2005 when the founders noticed that teenage/twenty something’s and their friends were engaging in rich media conversations drawing upon the full reach of mobile text messaging, the immediacy and speed of instant messaging, and thoroughness of web browser interface.
Wonder if it’s this area that interests Google?
“Zingku services are also being made available to “merchants” who wish to reach an audience. Merchants create “mobile flyers” and then publish/email a “zing-code” to their customers who opt to pull the flyer to their mobile phone. The customer can then zing it to those friends who they think may be interested. Our mobile flyers are interactive, can take a recipient through a mobile text and picture messaging journey. As such, 18 - 28 year olds, who have tuned out of email and are tuned in into their mobile, respond far more actively than traditional marketing media.
It’s quite polite, and quite effective. Our view of a “merchant” is anyone who has something to promote, whether it be a retailer, a theater promoting a production, a band who has just produced a new EP, a humorist producing snack-size entertainment, or an event organizer of any kind! We are currently working with a range of merchants who are excited by the prospect of connecting with their audience/customers within this new medium.”
(From About Zingku)
Posted by HeavyLight on October 1st, 2007 at 10:05 am.