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a16z Podcast | Messaging is the Medium

a16z Podcast | Messaging is the Medium

19 segments available

The potential to turn messaging into a platform is driving much of the excitement in mobile, says a16z’s Benedict Evans. It's a platform through which other apps flow (and where all the users get aggregated). Take for example Facebook's recent announcements, which put it right where it wants to be on the mobile phone -- in control. So what’s next in messaging? And what will Apple, Google, and other players like WeChat have to say about it?

Segments Timeline

1
0:00 - 1:11
1:11 duration262 words

Smartphones as Social Platforms

Benedict Evans discusses how smartphones have evolved into social platforms, allowing apps to access user data seamlessly. He highlights the reduced friction in using multiple social networks on mobile compared to desktop, leading to a surge in social messaging apps. This segment sets the stage for understanding the current landscape of mobile communication.

"welcome to the a 16z podcast I'm Michael Copeland and we are here with Benedict Evans Habana act you've got this new post out and you started off by describing by saying that the smartphone itself is ..."

2
1:11 - 2:15
1:04 duration227 words

The Second Wave of Messaging Apps

Evans explores the evolution of messaging apps beyond basic SMS functionalities. He identifies two significant trends: the rise of platforms like WeChat that integrate various services and the psychological aspects driving user engagement in apps like Instagram and Snapchat. This segment emphasizes the shift towards more complex messaging ecosystems.

"you've got the app installed it's extremely easy to have more than one of these things extremely easy to switch between the two of them and this is why we've seen in the last two or three years an exp..."

3
2:15 - 3:02
0:46 duration178 words

Facebook's Role in Messaging Evolution

In this segment, Evans discusses Facebook's pivotal role in shaping the second wave of messaging apps through strategic acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp. He analyzes how Facebook has influenced user behavior and the competitive landscape, positioning itself as a leader in the messaging space.

"point out and this is what I wanted to dig into too is that Facebook really in that second wave has has really led you know other technology company is this kind of driving things with acquisitions li..."

4
3:02 - 4:32
1:29 duration328 words

Building Platforms Within Messaging Apps

Evans explains the concept of building mini-apps within messaging platforms, using WeChat as a prime example. He illustrates how this model allows users to engage with services like ride-sharing without needing to install separate apps, showcasing the potential for rapid user acquisition and engagement.

"second wave that we're seeing and what those are yeah so I think this this two parts to this on the one hand can you find some interesting and cool behavior that you can use as a way of gaining any us..."

5
4:32 - 6:44
2:11 duration477 words

Facebook's New Messaging Strategies

This segment delves into Facebook's innovative strategies for enhancing user interaction within Messenger. Evans discusses how Facebook allows businesses to communicate directly with users through Messenger, bypassing the need for app installations, and how this could reshape the app ecosystem.

"so that was kind of the first that was of the kind of the first vision right um then what happened last week is it Facebook a she turned around and did something quite different in a sec they kind of ..."

6
6:44 - 8:18
1:34 duration338 words

Competing with Facebook Messenger

Evans concludes by analyzing the competitive implications of Facebook's strategies for other messaging apps. He argues that Facebook's approach effectively forces competitors to adapt or risk obsolescence, as they must now contend with a broader array of content and services integrated into Messenger.

"iTunes to cachi is their Facebook users uh-huh well I described that how are they physics users sending it through the messenger social graph you're sending it into messenger and messengers deciding m..."

7
8:44 - 9:46
1:01 duration214 words

Navigating the App Store Dynamics

Here, the focus is on the interplay between Facebook Messenger and the app ecosystems of Google and Apple. The segment discusses how both tech giants are aware of the implications of Messenger's growth and how it challenges traditional app store dynamics. The conversation raises questions about the future of notifications and how they are becoming a primary interaction method on mobile devices.

"dynamic of there being dozens of these things rising and falling all the time and turn them all into a facebook product and meanwhile let's not forget this is happening either within Android or iOS so..."

8
9:46 - 10:53
1:06 duration264 words

The Evolution of Notifications

This segment delves into the evolution of notifications as a new form of interaction on mobile devices. It discusses how both Apple and Google have made notifications more interactive, allowing users to engage with content without opening apps. The conversation highlights the potential for notifications to serve as atomic units of content, reshaping how users interact with apps and services.

"have made notifications interactive so you can have an action button or two and you can have a payload so you can have an image and then if you think about what the watch does either Apple watch or yo..."

9
10:53 - 12:01
1:08 duration237 words

Identity Platforms and User Engagement

In this segment, the discussion shifts to the concept of identity platforms and their role in user engagement. It contrasts Facebook's identity platform with Google's and Apple's approaches, exploring how these platforms can facilitate notifications and enhance user experiences. The segment raises questions about the future of identity management in mobile applications and how it could influence user interactions.

"runtime and if you pull your notifications panel down now and you're not kind of anal about flowing it out all the time you'll see like a whole dozen or two dozen bunches of things and they're you kno..."

10
12:01 - 14:03
2:01 duration430 words

Facebook's Ambition to Capture Mobile Interaction

The final segment examines Facebook's ambition to become the primary channel for mobile interactions. It discusses the company's desire to expand beyond its traditional app boundaries and integrate various functionalities into Messenger. The conversation reflects on the broader implications of this strategy for the future of mobile applications and user engagement.

"well certainly Google is going to be interested in websites going to be being able to send notifications to the notifications panel certainly web sites on the phone because that's the whole vision of ..."

11
13:50 - 14:38
0:48 duration184 words

Facebook's Quest for Integration

Here, the focus shifts to Facebook's strategy to become a primary channel for user interactions on mobile devices. The segment discusses Facebook's attempts to break free from its app silo and integrate more deeply into the mobile experience, including the potential for notifications to serve as a portal for user engagement.

"underlying point is there is this other whole other model of interacting with staff that is emerged on a mobile device and Facebook would like to capture that and make itself that kind of primary Chan..."

12
14:38 - 15:53
1:15 duration265 words

The Evolution of Bundling and Unbundling

This segment explores the cyclical nature of bundling and unbundling in the tech industry, referencing Jim Barksdale's famous quote. It discusses how content and services have shifted from websites to apps, and now to notifications, creating a complex landscape for developers and users alike. The conversation reflects on the implications of these changes for messaging apps and user engagement.

"the fundamental change here is that for 20 years the internet experience as a web browser and a mouse and a keyboard and the web browser was fundamentally a neutral platform you know I'd only a measly..."

13
15:53 - 17:01
1:08 duration259 words

The Challenge of Common Standards

In this segment, the discussion addresses the misconception that a common standard for messaging apps is needed. It argues that the notification panel on smartphones serves as a de facto common platform for aggregating messages from various services. The implications for developers navigating between Apple's and Facebook's ecosystems are also examined.

"feels like that's another way for Facebook to try and kind of pull back an aggregation model and try and aggregate everything that's happening on your fan and so do notifications become for lack of a ..."

14
17:01 - 19:43
2:41 duration569 words

Facebook's User Experience Dilemma

This segment highlights Facebook's ongoing challenge of balancing user experience with platform control. It discusses how Facebook manages third-party apps and content within its ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive user experience while navigating the complexities of app integration and content sharing.

"need a common standard for messaging apps listen to me I think completely misunderstands a notification know the motivation of anybody who's building a messaging out there's the last thing they want b..."

15
19:43 - 20:34
0:50 duration179 words

The Future of Messaging and Content Sharing

The final segment speculates on the future of messaging and content sharing within platforms like Facebook. It discusses the limitations of current messaging capabilities and the potential for future innovations, including embedded apps and new content types, as the landscape of mobile communication continues to evolve.

"not the newsfeed this is not filtered and curated so there is no algorithm where Facebook would change settings to break this and the other thing and this is sort of you know to go to a much higher le..."

16
21:02 - 22:03
1:01 duration234 words

Changing Interaction Models

This segment explores the evolving interaction models in mobile technology. Evans reflects on the transition from web browsers to smartphones and the complexity of current platforms. He emphasizes that unlike the stable web environment, mobile platforms are in constant flux, leading to new opportunities and challenges.

"to adopt the Facebook platform in order to do this because it's easier to get a pin stalls and let's make they make this clear as well if someone fixed app installs yeah this is Facebook's attempt to ..."

17
22:03 - 23:10
1:06 duration238 words

The Role of Notifications

Evans discusses the potential for Apple and Google to innovate around notifications and identity platforms. He notes the unpredictability of their roadmaps and how these changes could impact user engagement, highlighting the competitive landscape between major tech players.

"what we're seeing you know then you sort of you go back to your question of well will Apple and Facebook versus Apple Google well what are Apple and Google going to do about notifications this weekend..."

18
23:10 - 24:44
1:33 duration351 words

The Complexity of Mobile Platforms

In this segment, Evans elaborates on the complexity of mobile platforms compared to the web. He discusses how the smartphone environment allows for a wider range of interactions and the potential for new applications, while also acknowledging the challenges that come with this rapid evolution.

"from web browser was kind of there and it kind of gained you know me a better standards and what-have-you but you didn't fundamentally have whole completely new stuff that I do and and to your point t..."

19
24:44 - 25:10
0:25 duration94 words

Facebook's Central Role in User Flow

Evans concludes by discussing Facebook's strategy to become central in users' mobile experiences. He emphasizes that while messaging is a key component, the broader implications of how Facebook integrates into user interactions on mobile devices are significant, especially as competition from platforms like WeChat grows.

"your phone so this is not about gifts you know obviously it's you know it is about gifts but it's also had a lot of other stuff as to how Facebook can make itself kind of central on to your device but..."