Will a New MySpace Mobile Site Win Users Back from Facebook?
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, MySpace just made some major announcements. They've announced plans to develop mobile applications for the Nokia S60 as well as the much-anticipated Palm Pre. However, for most of us, the bigger news is the relaunch of the MySpace Mobile web site which will occur this week. Yet even with the updated branding and new user interface elements introduced by the revamped site, we wonder: will it be enough to win users back from Facebook?
Over the past day or so, the tech blogosphere has been engrossed in a major brouhaha over the update to the Facebook Terms of Service (TOS) which implies that the social networking site now owns all your content. It seems there could be no better time for MySpace to announce some good news about their company as they could easily capitalize on the calls for Facebook boycotts and the current disgruntled mental state of Facebook's users.
What's New
But what MySpace has announced may not be anything dramatic enough to encourage those upset at Facebook to give MySpace another shot. Instead, in addition the Nokia and Pre applications that are now underway, the company said they will launch a new MySpace Mobile web site this week. The site (m.myspace.com / wap.myspace.com) is said to better enhance the look and feel of MySpace on the mobile phone to make it more closely resemble the online web site. User interface elements have been optimized for devices with screen sizes 176 pixels wide (and larger) and it includes the ability to upload photos.
The company also says the site is more scalable, which is good considering they're reporting 20 million visitors hitting up the mobile site each month - a number that has been growing rapidly. Over the past six months, the company has noted over a 50% increase in mobile usage for the U.S., an 80% increase in mobile usage in Europe, and a 60% increase in the Asian market.
A Look Look...Yawn
While those numbers on their own are impressive, MySpace is now no longer the dominate social network in the world. And while they still reign as the leader in the U.S., we're seeing Facebook steal marketshare on that battleground as well. As of last month, Facebook gained almost 100 million more worldwide users than MySpace and is now nearly two times as large.
For MySpace to reclaim their dominance, they would have needed a much bigger announcement right now than simply some new apps and a new look for their mobile web site. They would have needed something that broke new ground - like a location-aware mobile site that found your nearby friends or a site that integrated MySpace Music for on-the-fly mobile streaming. Something...you know, big.
Instead, what we got was this (see below).
Before:
After:
That's nice, we suppose, but we were hoping for something a bit more. What do you think?
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I think it's too late. People have already moved off Myspace. I hardly ever check my account, and the content just isn't there. Sorry, a mobile site won't fix anything.
YAWN
I can't remember the last time I logged into MySpace. The slooooow loading pages, inundation with ads, and spammers/hack attempts drove me away. I've always used Facebook but tried to "put up" with MySpace because I had some friends that weren't members of FB.
I finally gave up -- if they need to talk to me they know where I am.
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I like the new mobile look but I don't think its going to change the amount of users that use the site. And i agree, the changes are far less than what I expected. I just noticed the change this morning and I was actually somewhat dissappointed because it kept telling me i had new messages and when I went to my inbox everything was old. Either way, I don't think this change will help the numbers between myspace and facebook.
i think that this is a good ide. i like the old one to tho....but i dont get on myspace mobile alot so it doesnt make too much of a difference to me. i like how yu are alwayz comin up wit new ideas!! keep it up!!
I want location-aware feature for my mobile social networking app. MySpace should do that to get ahead of Facebook in the mobile SocNet race.
This is soooo..... GAY yall are all dumb asses
I think myspace will always remind me of 2005. a good year for me overall. But I'm very much satisfied with facebook...
Facebook but tried to "put up" with MySpace because I had some friends that weren't members of FB
myspace should have free downloadable apps like facebook does. that way you don't have to connect to the internet first, you click on your app and you're there. facebook also has facebook IM in an app which is so much easier to communicate if you don't have unlimited sms. myspace needs to expand their perks!
This site is interesting and very informative, nicely interface. Enjoyed browsing through the site.
well, sounds sweet.thanks for bring us good news.
a good comparison; what do you think about it?
It all depends; maybe yes, maybe not.
Of course it will; no doubt.
there is no doubt.
there is no doubt,,,,,,,,
I agree, thanks for the article and wrought iron furniture.
great idea; no doubt. thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!
Now tell me how having a few known brands be the ones that make OpenID easy to use is a good thing.
The company also says the site is more scalable, which is good considering they're reporting 20 million visitors hitting up the mobile site each month - a number that has been growing rapidly. Over the past six months, the company has noted over a 50% increase in mobile usage for the U.S., an 80% increase in mobile usage in Europe, and a 60% increase in the Asian market.
For MySpace to reclaim their dominance, they would have needed a much bigger announcement right now than simply some new apps and a new look for their mobile web site. They would have needed something that broke new ground - like a location-aware mobile site that found your nearby friends or a site that integrated MySpace Music for on-the-fly mobile streaming. Something...you know, big.
hahh, people have not moved on from myspace! they have just adapted to this changing world! obviously myspace(tom), has nothing to worrie about!
me and hundreds of my friends lovee it! (: its likee the bestt!!!
but an upgrade would help.... facebook could catch up!!!!
I find it hard to beat facebook.
Mike
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I think Myspace didn't evolve fast enough. Even with all of the signs, they failed to act quick enough. Although possible, I think they will have a very difficult time making a comeback. It would be an amazing comeback!
Need to put a better MySpace App out there for smartphones, one that will alert you and let you see when someone responds to your status. Right now it doesn't let you see the comments left to you on the app. That's my main issue. MySpace mobile is way better than the app for my blackberry and it doesn't take up memory, either. I was won over by Facebook though with these features I mentioned above, not to mention it seems like it's more user friendly...I'd be glad to go back to MySpace if they made a bigger comeback...it can be done, look at Apple, they were obsolete for years and now, they are in it to win it!!
it's not just that there's too much information out there for one person to adequately encompass, it's that there's too much data out there to even make out the information clearly, let alone to evaluate and act on that information.
I don't think so, Facebook is there to stay!
I find it hard to beat facebook.
it's not just that there's too much information out there for one person to adequately encompass, it's that there's too much data out there to even make out the information clearly, let alone to evaluate and act on that information.
thank you
Thanks you web site..
it's not just that there's too much information out there for one person to adequately encompass, it's that there's too much data out there to even make out the information clearly, let alone to evaluate and act on that information.
Thanks
Thanks !
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i think nobody will use myspace again.Facebook is good for me and it is enough
i think nobody will use myspace again.Facebook is good for me and it is enough..But maybe 3 years later another site will start and we can like this..
great idea; no doubt. thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!
i think nobody will use myspace again.Facebook is good for me and it is enough..But maybe 3 years later another site will start and we can like thi
great idea; no doubt. thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!
than you very much
i think nobody will use myspace again.Facebook is good for me and it is enough..But maybe 3 years later another site will start and we can like thi
very good, thanks
I can't remember the last time I logged into MySpace. The slooooow loading pages, inundation with ads, and spammers/hack attempts drove me away. I've always used Facebook but tried to "put up" with MySpace because I had some friends that weren't members of FB.
I finally gave up -- if they need to talk to me they know where I am.
Thanks. I like you sites
thanks for bring us good news.
No way for Myspace to beat facebook. At least, it is obvious nowadays that, people have a really strong demand on facebook. maybe it changes, who knows.
Myspace users never win the facebook users.
Thks for bring us.
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