Instagram gained a record number of users in November due to strong sales of the iPhone 4S, as apps and games available on the device experience residual success from its dominance.
The California-based photo start-up gained two million users in November alone, doubling its previous monthly download rate. The company's top execs attributed the surge of success to iPhone 4S, released in late October, since Instagram is an iOS-based application available only in Apple's App Store.
The iPhone 4S shattered sales records on Black Friday, and routinely sells out in Apple stores across the globe. The iPhone's skyrocketing sales create new markets for app and game developers, who are using the platform to create unique apps that reach a greater variety of users.
Launched just over a year ago by its two developers, Instagram is a free app that offers 16 photo filters, allowing them to blur their photos, give them a sepia tint, and increase the size, among other features.
Instagram also boasts strong social-networking integration so users can upload and share photos instantly on sites like Twitter and Facebook, and has been used by celebrities like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, adding momentum to its rapid growth.
Smaller companies like Instagram, which currently has a total staff of six people, stand to acquire a huge lift if their apps become popular downloads. Apple's popular IOS provides access to a vast consumer base, and a rapidly expanding market gives consumers fun, innovative options.
Even giant companies like Twitter benefit from the iPhone's success. The social networking site saw a boost in its user base when it became integrated within iOS 5 earlier this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment