Facebook to start testing ads in mobile apps

Facebook will start testing the delivery of ads in select mobile apps, the company announced Wednesday. As more users turn to mobile, Facebook advertisers have been looking for ways to reach these people.

Facebook notes that the goal of this test is to demonstrate that Facebook can drive results both on and off the site.

When asked which apps would be a part of the test, a Facebook spokesperson noted that the company has nothing else to share at this time.

Here’s the announcement on the Facebook for Business blog:

To improve the relevancy of the ads people see, provide even greater reach for Facebook advertisers and help mobile developers better monetize their apps, we’re running a small test to show Facebook ads in mobile apps. Our aim is to demonstrate even greater reach with the same power of Facebook targeting for advertisers both on and off Facebook.

While we have run similar tests in the past, this current test is more like a mobile ad network in that we are working directly with a small number of advertisers and publishers rather than an outside ad-serving platform.

The current test is limited to a few advertisers and partners, and we will share more details over the coming months.

Readers: What do you think of this?

Photo courtesy of Tanjala Gica / Shutterstock.com.

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Microsoft Secretly Testing Halo 4 Streaming To PC And Windows Phone

by MegaGames, Posted Sep 29th 2013 10:12PM

Talking under the condition of anonymity, sources close to Microsoft told The Verge that the company is testing own cloud-based game streaming service.

The service is still in prototype stage and it hasn't been branded yet, but The Verge's sources have seen Halo 4 for Xbox 360 being streamed to Windows PC and Lumia 520 Windows Phone smartphone.

Sony has already publicized its plan to use Gaikai streaming service to make PlayStation 3 game available on PlayStation 4. In a recent interview, Microsoft senior director of product management and planning Albert Penello didn't rule out the possibility of an equivalent setup for Xbox One.

"There are so many things that the servers can do," he said of Microsoft's Azure cloud service. "Using our Azure cloud servers, sometimes it's things like voice processing. It could be more complicated things like rendering full games like a Gaikai and delivering it to the box. We just have to figure out how, over time, how much does that cost to deliver, how good is the experience."

Tags: Android, Halo, Halo 4, Halo Waypoint, Halo3, Halo4, Ios, ios7, megagames, Microsoft, Microsoft Game Studios, Microsoft-Game-Studios, MicrosoftGameStudios, mobile, mobile gaming, pc, PC Gaming, pc-gaming, PcGaming, phone, streaming, streaming media, waypoint, windows

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Facebook reportedly testing mobile payment platform

In what AllThingsD calls a potential PayPal competitor, the site reported that Facebook is testing a mobile payment platform that would allow users to make purchases on mobile apps, using Facebook as their login mechanism.

If you’ve already provided Facebook with your credit card information, such as through a Facebook Gifts purchase or games payment, that would be stored and used during a purchase on a separate mobile app. Facebook confirmed the test to AllThingsD, noting that it should arrive in the next month or so.

Doing this would allow for a seamless purchase experience, where the user does not have to enter credit card information. As Facebook is the dominant social login utility, this would definitely be a competitor for PayPal on mobile. For many apps, when you make a purchase for the first time, the customer has to take out their credit card and enter in the numbers — adding complication and a potential roadblock.

According to AllThingsD, JackThreads (a shopping site aimed at young men) is the pilot partner for this mobile payment platform. The site points out that JackThreads already has a great relationship with Facebook and sees a significant portion of revenue coming from mobile.

In a statement provided to AllThingsD, Facebook said that this test is simply aimed at making it easier for app partners to facilitate conversions:

We continue to have a great relationship with PayPal, and this product is simply to test how we can help our app partners provide a simpler commerce experience. This test does not involve moving the payment processing away from an app’s current provider.

Readers: How do you feel about using Facebook as the login mechanism for mobile payments?

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Facebook testing ‘More People to Follow’ prompt

Facebook is trying to promote users to follow more. According to sister site AllFacebook, the site is testing a prompt that shows similar people to follow when a user opts to follow someone on Facebook.

AllFacebook reader Yan Yanko Kotliarsky submitted the above image, which came up after a follow of Mark Zuckerberg’s sister, Arielle Zuckerberg.

Facebook has done this in the past, prompting users to like other pages after they’ve clicked like on a page.

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Facebook reportedly testing VIP app for celebs

Facebook is reportedly developing a new app, but unless you’ve walked on a red carpet, it probably won’t be for your phone. According to AllThingsD, Facebook is testing a new app for celebrities to manage their accounts. While many celebrities have agencies or representatives manage their Facebook presence, some like to take a hands-on approach and post behind-the-scenes photos or videos.

This app would make the experience easier for celebrities, who can cut through the clutter and engage fans in a more effective way.

Facebook confirmed the test to AllThingsD:

We are currently testing some mobile features designed to help public figures interact with their fans. We are testing these features with a small group of partners and will share more details should we roll it out more widely.

This would lead to more engagement between celebrities and their fans. Facebook has worked to provide more exposure for its prominent users, such as a verification badge so users can know that they’re dealing with the real person and not a fake page.

Images courtesy of the Eminem and Celebs on Facebook pages.

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Anti-spam plugin Quiz, please help testing

Would be pretty cool if you could comment this blog post. You first have to provide correct anti-spam answer.

Thanks in advance.

(If you encounter any trouble, please tweet me @gameproducer)

P.S. I’m using the quiz plugin here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Game Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Anti-spam plugin Quiz, please help testing

Would be pretty cool if you could comment this blog post. You first have to provide correct anti-spam answer.

Thanks in advance.

(If you encounter any trouble, please tweet me @gameproducer)

P.S. I’m using the quiz plugin here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Game Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Facebook Testing “Facebook Credits for Websites” That Helps Third-Party Sites Sell Virtual Goods

Facebook has just announced a closed, limited test in which for the first time it will allow websites to process payments for virtual goods using Facebook Credits. Facebook’s virtual currency is currently the mandatory payment method for all Facebook games on the web, a payment option for Facebook apps, and became available as a payment option to mobile app developers last week. The only initial launch partner for “Facebook Credits for Websites” will be online and downloadable games site GameHouse that until now only accepted payments through credit card and PayPal.

During the test, Facebook will closely monitor the demand for Credits as a payment method and the user experience of those that pay though its virtual currency. If a high enough percentage of users make purchases through Credits and feedback is positive, Facebook may expend additional resources to let more websites add Credits as a payment option.

Eventually, Facebook might open the option to all web developers selling virtual goods or digital media, allowing the social network to earn a 30% cut on transactions across the web. In exchange, sites will be able to provide an easier way to buy their goods and media than punching in credit card or PayPal details. Facebook has provided a signup page for developers that want to try Facebook Credits for Websites if the test is expanded.

GameHouse users that sign in to the site with their Facebook login and play Collapse Blast or UNO Boost will only see Credits as a payment option, not credit cards or PayPal. If they choose to buy virtual goods or proprietary in-game currencies, Facebook Credits will be deducted from the same account that Facebook canvas and mobile games pull from. Similar to how it works within Facebook, users without an existing balance of Credits will be able to purchase a bundle within the payment flow.

Unlike on Facebook where Credits are the exclusive payment method for games, GameHouse may still offer other payment options. However, Ian Fliflet who handles corporate strategy for GameHouse tells me that those signed in through Facebook won’t see the option to pay with a credit card or PayPal account. This could anger some long-time GameHouse users that try signing in through Facebook for the first time only to find their preferred payment options missing in the two test games. That in turn could negatively skew feedback on Credits for Websites.

If the test does indicate a demand for Credits as a payment option outside of Facebook.com, its unclear whether Facebook would require developers to use its virtual currency exclusively. It could simply make them an additional payment option, the way Credits currently work for Facebook.com apps as well as mobile apps and games. However, it might extend this test model so that sites that want to use Facebook as an identity and login provider will also need to use its taxed virtual currency.

The impact of Facebook Credits for Websites could be significant. It could assist independent game developers and digital media merchants with monetization, as customers might be able to quick make purchases rather than having time to reconsider while enduring the friction of entering their credit card information or logging in to PayPal.

Currently, many independent game developers have to distribute through portals like GameHouse that have built a base of users that have already provided their credit card details. Facebook Credits for Websites could give them the opportunity to distribute directly to fans in way that gives them more control over branding. The tax that third-party game portals take on credit card or PayPal transactions may vary widely, so Facebook’s 30% cut could be less or more than developers are used to paying.

Facebook has much to gain from Credits for Websites, though. The more places they’re accepted, the more users that are likely to buy and maintain a balance of Credits, and the more transactions Facebook will get a cut of. A user might buy a bundle of Credits to spend them on a gaming portal or to buy a band’s album, but then spend then become a paying customer of a freemium game on Facebook.com.

More users maintaining a balance of Credits also makes Facebook a more lucrative platform for developers. Typically only a few percent of gamers ever pay to play, but if they already have a balance they may be more likely to spend. Facebook may need to initially reduce its tax or not demand any exclusivity as a payment method to get websites hooked on Credits. With time, though, Facebook Credits for Websites could become a significant revenue source and powerful way to attract developers.

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Facebook Testing “Happening Now” Column That Could Reduce Home Page Bounces

Facebook is testing a new version of the home page that displays a column titled “Happening Now”  listing recent actions of friends in the right sidebar where the “Upcoming Events” section usually is. The short Happening Now entries such as status updates, Likes, new friendships, posted links, and comments can be clicked to pop up a window in-line that shows the original wall story and all its associated Likes and comments.

Happening Now could give users a snapshot of more than 10 stories about friends before they even scroll beneath the fold of the news feed, decreasing the bounce rate. For now, though, Facebook says the ”test includes a small percentage of Facebook users,  just a fraction of a percent”.

The Facebook news feed only has room to show a maximum of roughly five stories above the fold before users have to scroll to see more, and this number can dwindle as low as one or two in the case of posted links with lots of comments. Happening Now allows Facebook to display a much wider breadth of stories above the fold through an independently scrollable frame, increasing the likelihood users will see something that catches their eye, and decreasing the immediate bounce rate of the home page. It does this by abbreviating some stories such as posts of links by omitting feedback and the author’s description, so the stories bear resemblance to notifications.

Unlike Twitter’s stream, which this test looks similar to, Facebook doesn’t always show a new update at the top of the news feed, and the rich content can make it difficult to rapidly consume. In 2009, Facebook at one point altered the news feed to be purely real-time updates similar to Twitter, but moved back to its original algorithmic design after seeing a prolonged negative response from users.

As Facebook becomes a hub for so much of people’s social activity, many have probably gotten into the habit of quickly opening a Facebook tab in their browser, scanning for new notifications and interesting stories at the top of the news feed, and closing the tab if nothing hooks them.

Happening Now could ensnare these impulsive visitors by giving them instant access to relevant content, and encourage them to leave Likes and comments that trigger notifications for friends. These actions, as well as more complicated ones such as watching posted videos, can all be done from the in-line pop up. Facebook Ads that are traditionally shown in the right sidebar appear to be pushed above or below the new column. If the feature was rolled out, Upcoming Events would have to be moved somewhere, and Facebook would need to prevent redundant content from appearing side by side.

Facebook briefly tried out a different “Happening Now” on the Events home page in August, which showed people currently active Places checkins as well as events going on that day. The web version of Facebook doesn’t have a way to see an aggregated list of checkins by friends, so users must either sift through their news feed or access Facebook via a mobile site or app. If checkins can appear in the new Happening Now, the column could inform users that their friends are at a nearby cafe and they should considering meeting them before they get engrossed in the site.

The Twitter-esque Happening Now has the potential to offer a more concise stream of content than the news feed without requiring significant redesign that might shock users. It augments the news feed’s algorithmically sorted Top News and real-time Most Recent feeds with an abbreviated, scannable feed. Happening Now could help users stay closer connected to more friends without having to browse or scroll.

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