Comments on: Is Mobile the Answer to Social Network Monetization?

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:07:09 +0000

Thanks for opening the discussion on Mobile {seesmic_video:{”url_thumbnail”:{”value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/RagqJlpJ09_th1.jpg”}”title”:{”value”:”Thanks for opening the discussion on Mobile ”}”videoUri”:{”value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/DbTcL0R6WX”}}}

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:07:09 +0000

By: theregoesdave

theregoesdave — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:01:45 +0000

My perspective is that the open and free philosophies that have thrived on the web are more likely to change the mobile carriers’ thinking than the other way around. Paid membership is practically neolithic in terms of online thinking, but unfortunately the mobile industry still has pretty extensive control over phones- for now.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:53:54 +0000

I disagree with you that social networks will eventually be subscription-based. I don’t think that anyone would use them if they were (unless all social networks jumped on the subscription model bandwagon, which is highly unlikely), and I also don’t think that would be an effective way to monetize. Rather, I think that monetization will come in the form of advertising within a person’s ongoing stream of information. This seems to be the most non-intrusive option and consumers can opt-in or out. This will create choice for the consumer which is essential since the mobile phone is such a personal device. It also is a win-win: companies make money and consumers choose what they get advertised about.