Tag: mobile app

The Facebook messenger mobile app is more popular than the flagship

Since the social network split its applications into smaller, specific offerings, some interesting trends have developed.

When it comes to the Facebook mobile app, there are actually quite a few from which to choose, and what is interesting about the download stats is that it is the Messenger application that is proving to be the most popular, even over the main flagship offering from the company.

The two social apps have been available since 2012 and the Messenger offering is notably more popular.

In fact, from 2012 through the first six months of 2015, the Messenger mobile app from Facebook has managed to bring in over 646.6 million downloads throughout that time. This, according to the app analytics from the Sensor Tower firm. Throughout that same span of time, the flagship Facebook social media app was able to achieve an impressive but notably lower 568 million downloads.

Aside from those two Facebook mobile apps, none of the brand’s other applications even come close.

Mobile App - FacebookFacebook has a range of different applications available for various purposes, but aside from those top two options, none of the other options are nearly as popular. To put it in perspective, all of the other Facebook apps, combined (aside from the flagship and Messenger options) have accumulated a total of 637.5 million downloads, total. That is about 9 million downloads fewer than Messenger’s total, all on its own.

What should be noted is that a number of the Facebook applications are from the company’s Creative Labs division. The purpose of that team is not necessarily the generation of the largest number of downloads. Instead, it is to use its app offerings to better understand the overall Facebook usage experience so that the primary apps can be enhanced to fit the wants and expectations of the users.

For example, the company learned a great deal its mobile apps such as Paper, so that it would be able to better design its instant articles feature, which makes it possible for news organizations to make social network posts of their articles directly onto Facebook. In the case of Messenger, though, the application has managed to hold the first position at both the Google Play and App Store ranks for quite some time.

Pi mobile wallet app launched by Taiwan industry giants

7-Eleven, PChome, and CTBC have all introduced this new smartphone payments option.

PChome Online Inc subsidiary, Pi Mobile Technology Inc. has now launched the Pi mobile wallet app for consumers to use to may payments at over 5,000 convenience stores throughout Taiwan.

The application is the result of a collaborative effort among some of the major players in the country.

The Pi mobile wallet has come about because PChome, CTBC, and Uni-President Enteterprises are all working together to launch it. PChome is the top online shopping portal in Taiwan. CTBC Bank is the leading issuer of credit cards in the country. Uni-President Enterprises is the operator of Taiwan’s 7-Eleven franchise. According to Jan Hung-tze, the chairman of PChome, at a press conference, “The partnership with 7-Eleven is expected to accelerate growth in mobile payment usage in Taiwan, as smartphones and convenience stores have become an integral part of our daily lives.”

When the mobile wallet is combined with a credit card from CTBC, small purchases can be made.

Mobile Wallet App LaunchedThese mobile payments have a maximum limit of NT$1,000 (almost US$32.00). The wallet app allows consumers with a CTBC Bank credit card to buy products at the 7-Eleven stores across the country. All they need to do is have the Pi application running on their smartphones. When the user is ready to make a purchase, a unique barcode is displayed on the smartphone screen. It is then scanned at the checkout counter and the payment is automatically made. The transaction is then verified and completed when the user enters a four digit code.

In the country, cash payments currently make up an estimated 75 percent of all transactions, according to Jan. They are considerably behind the times when compared to the trends in other countries in the Asia Pacific region as well as in many nations around the world. In Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong, for example, cash payments have dropped to about 50 percent.

All credit card information from this mobile wallet is stored remotely, and transactions can be completed only if the four digit code is used. In that way, the mobile security features are in place to stop the device from being used to make purchases by the wrong person. Furthermore, the fact that it can be used only at 7-Eleven and it has a maximum transaction limit further reduces the risk of fraudulent charges.