Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), MSN, and AOL are already in the instant messaging business, so it would seem that there is not any room left there. But News Corp’s (NWS) does not seem to care. They are launching their own IM service for MySpace, and perhaps the big social networking site as a large enough user base to make it work.
AOL already has 50 million users for its IM service followed by MSN with over 24 million and Yahoo! with 22 million.
Because social network websites have not developed a robust revenue model, MySpace is trying everything from adding video and photo sharing to its new IM project. None of it is likely to help. Social network audiences are hard to segment and many people who use the sites are unlikely to take a shine to advertising. The web properties are like Hoovervilles for those surfing the web with nothing to do.
Instant messaging for MySpace is not likely to be much of a success.
Douglas A. McIntyre
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