Last year's Facebook revenue higher than expected...
Published on 21 June 2010
Reuters quotes sources estimating the network's 2009 revenue around $800 million, boosted by a spectacular growth in both users and advertisers. Currently, nearly half a billion people across the world are using Facebook. The company has also been said to boost a net profit of tens of millions of dollars in 2009.
...while other social networks are struggling
Published on 21 June 2010
Publishers that invested in social networks other than Facebook are counting their losses, accumulating to a staggering $1.5bn (£1bn). AOL is about to sell failing networking site Bebo for a fraction of the $850 million it paid for the site in 2008; News Corporation-owned Myspace has cut hundreds of jobs, and ITV's acquisition of Friends Reunited has also seen the company making a massive loss as users have left the network for other sites that better fit their needs. It remains to be seen if Facebook can continue its market dominance or if a new networking site will emerge to steal their thunder.
Google plans to launch a paid content system (Newspass) for publishers
Published on 21 June 2010
According to a report in Italian newspaper, Google might launch a paid content system for publishers as early as by the end of this year. La Repubblica states the search engine is already reaching out to news publishers to get them to sign up for their Newspass system. Although Google did not confirm the report, the Newspass system seems to include many elements of Google's 2009 proposal to the Newspaper Association of America.
The Newpass system, according to La Repubblica, would allow readers to sign in using a single login across all the participating news publishers. Publishers would be able to decide which type of payment they want to accept, including subscriptions and micropayments. Users would then make those payments using Google Checkout.
Google has issued the following statement on this matter: "We've consistently said we are talking with news publishers to figure out ways we can work together, including whether we can help them with technology to power any subscription services they may be thinking of building. Our aim, as with all Google products, would be to reach as broad a global audience as possible."
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