Mobile-related technologies for the past week, in 3 (or almost) words: Geo Value, Emerging Markets, Enough Room For 2?

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THE WEEK IN 3WORDS

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WEEK #44

3. GEO VALUE
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Adsquare, a Berlin-based company, aims to make value out of
applications users geolocation.
Tracking end-users’ geolocation to adapt advertisement
messages according to where they are is relatively
common. Adsquare proposes to go one step further by
actually computing the history of end-users’ geolocations
to predict where they will go next.
The company claims their technology do not threaten end-users’
privacy (because they don’t store their exact position, but keep track of
the 50x50 m – in cities – squares where they actually were geolocated).
By combining end-users’ position in such squares and such squares
context, they define the end-users’ profile and interests and are able to
deliver adapted advertisments.

5. EMERGING MARKETS
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App Annie, the analytics toolbox for native mobile applications, has released a
report that puts Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and India as the fastest
growing markets for applications.
Most of the downloads in those markets are driven by Android (Play Store), but
Apple still stands in front in terms of revenues. Basically, it means emerging
markets privilege non-expensive mobile solutions: low entry Android devices
and free applications. But it also means the percentage of equipped users is
growing fast and opens very nice perspectives for apps publishers (especially
because those markets are different in many ways from traditional North-
American and European markets).
(*) http://go.appannie.com/app-annie-mef-global-app-economy-q3-2014/?__hstc=45742459.aec3c54ff1f7320ec183a09d5002c52a.1414484775665.1414484775665.1414484775665.1&__hssc=45742459.1.1414484775665&__hsfp=4095068487

7. ENOUGH ROOM FOR 2?
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Facebook finally launched its “private” chat application called Rooms. The
promise is for end-users to enter chat rooms and discuss without having to
share their real name (or other personal information). (Well, Facebook sort of
re-invented ICQ…)
But two French entrepreneurs claim they have launched a very
similar application (proposing the same features), called Room, a
month ago.
Has Facebook really copied the concept or is this no much more than
a naming coincidence? Given the fact the concept is far from being
innovative, and given the fact both applications main features are
chat “rooms”, it is not really surprising that both application ended up
with a very similar name.
vs.
The French developers of the first Room application to hit the market should
just be proud to anticipate Facebook’s new app. It’s just a pity they haven’t
launched it earlier in time!