Colibria has launched its Facebook Canvas Application, an operator-branded portal that allows users to communicate with their mobile phone contacts directly from Facebook. By integrating key operator services within the social network, the application (app) provides a vital link between the operator and the 350 million strong online community. The app presents a dashboard view of the user’s mobile contacts within Facebook, allowing them to communicate with these contacts instantly, using operator services such as SMS, IM and VoIP. Users can also see their friends’ status and their location on a map, and are able to update their own status. The app also gives access to features that the customer may not have on their mobile device such as birthday reminders, proximity alerts and the ability to send pokes. Additionally, non-subscribers of the operator can use the app to communicate with their facebook friends who are subscribers, encouraging wider usage.

The app, carrying the operator’s brand, is spread virally throughout the social network as users invite their friends to use it. Once added, the app is embedded on the user’s profile, making it visible to their entire network of friends. When the user interacts with the app, automatic updates are posted to their profile, further exposing the service. By bundling such powerful features into one branded portal, the Facebook Canvas Application gives mobile operators the chance to capitalise on the popularity of social networks while also driving mobile usage, an avenue relatively unexplored until now. Online research has shown that 30% of British 18 to 24 year olds spend five hours or more a week on social networks. Furthermore, 60% of all British social network users use applications, with one in five (21%) using them daily. The demand to deliver mobile services through social network applications is high, with over a quarter (27%) of social network users saying they would like to be able to access their mobile phonebook contacts and communicate with them from within social networks.
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