Social networking application market to grow 120% this year

The social networking application market was relatively small in 2006, coming in at 46.8 million, a new study published by IDC reports. By 2009, however, this market will grow to 428.3 million creating a new application segment and establishing social networking as a new communications tool used for many purposes other than consumer socializing.

There are three social networking segments emerging, IDC's research indicates. These include: self-service applications used by groups and marketing campaign teams; brand applications that focus on persistent customer engagement; and enterprise applications that provide more effective ways of working with customers, partners, and other external parties.

IDC believes the social networking application market will grow rapidly over the next three years and then level off as the majority of large companies likely to deploy social networking eventually do so.

Other key findings from IDC's study include:
The social networking applications market will grow quickly over the next three years and continue to grow, but at a slower pace, after 2011.
Social networking application vendors will continue to emerge over the next two years, particularly those focused on vertical applications.
As the market develops, social networking functionality will be built into core communication platforms like email and instant messaging applications and the market, particularly the enterprise segment, will consolidate.

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