A FACEBOOK "premium" service that you have to pay for and invasive targeted advertising are just two of the changes predicted for the social network as it goes public in the largest net company float ever.
With the paperwork for the initial public offering already lodged
in the expected $US5 billion ($4.67 billion) capital raising,
news.com.au asked Australian technology research company Telsyte what we could expect about the future of the tech giant.
Analyst Foad Fadaghi said the influence of investors and shareholders would inevitably change the way we use the social network.
YES, THERE WILL BE ADVERTISING
“The ads on Facebook may become more content driven or invasive.
“There
may be more marketing or advertising related products or services that
we see develop and come out as investors and shareholders look to make
more money from the site.
“Traditionally social networking websites have had a lot of
advertising imagery but haven’t been able to get the same high rates as
the premium content sites, such as news. So those metrics will come
under scrutiny.”
"FACEBOOK PREMIUM"
With so
many people playing games and making purchases on the site, users could
be offered a “Facebook Premium” subscription option.
“In the app space you will see a lot more in-app advertising, purchases and subscriptions.
“That
whole ecosystem will keep growing. It already represents a significant
portion of Facebook revenue, so that side of the business can definitely
grow a lot more.
“The challenge is companies such Google+ will
provide similar services, but are likely not to charge because they are
less powerful in the social networking space.
“As long as there is competition, social networking sites will remain free to consumers.”
BETTER MOBILE APPS
“In
the future we can expect Facebook applications to further enhance the
mobile site. For example, the current app on the iPad is not as good as
the web-based platform.
“There may be more interactions between
communities and governments, and businesses. Today Facebook is very much
around individual contacts, but they are starting to get into the
business. You may see that enhanced over time.
“Facebook has to
make sure that it provides services that users are comfortable using,
but will have to balance that with the wishes of its investors who will
be looking to make money.”
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