News & Insights

Mobile Hits a Major Milestone with Facebook Acquisition of Instagram

Mobile Technology

The first decade of the 21st century was filled with mobile advocates crying wolf saying, "This is the year for mobile!" Then, each year passed with a disappointing sigh. Then in 2007, the iPhone hit the market and the real mobile revolution started to gain traction. The iPad came on the scene in 2010 and was seen by many (including myself) as a game changer. These two devices have made the dream of ubiquitous mobile computing a reality. Recently, this mobile-driven ecosystem hit another major milestone–the acquisition of Instagram by Facebook for $1 billion.

Instagram is a photo sharing app that launched just two years ago on the Apple app store. More than 27 million iPhone users had registered under the Instagram platform alone and the company just launched their Android version. A simple photo-enhancing and sharing app meant to run on mobile devices has just been valued and acquired for ONE BILLION DOLLARS . Yes, I'll say it again and write it out differently - $1 Billion Dollar$$$$ . Check out this history of Instagram [INFOGRAPHIC].

So here we go again. Get ready for a ride on the mobile tsunami. I'm certain more deals will follow as investors flock to other mobile-based services. But is this for real? Is mobile ready for prime time? I say yes, thanks to the new style of smartphones and tablets (thank you Apple and Steve Jobs). The technology is ready for mass adoption, it's ready to change the way people work, play, socialize, and just live and get through the day. If you're skeptical, then chew on this for bit...

  • More than 55 million homes in the U.S. house at least one iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac computer, according to CNBC's All-America Economic survey .
  • By December 2012, mobile devices will account for 25 percent of all paid-search clicks and 23 percent of search budgets according to Marin Software.
  • Research firm IDC predicts 106 million tablets will be sold in 2012.
  • Nearly half of U.S. mobile phone subscribers now own smartphones, according to information released earlier this year by Nielsen Mobile Insights. That's up from 36 percent last year.

I could go on and on but the writing is on the wall. The early adopter stage is over and we are now in rapid growth mode. The world and the times are changing and we'll all be watching it take place through our connected smartphones and tablets. Are you ready for this change? Is your company? How are you adapting your business to mobile media consumption? It's time for all of us to get with the program. About the Author Craig Cooke is CEO and Co-Founder of Rhythm Interactive - an integrated marketing agency with a digital core that focuses on creating effective brand experiences for clients.