With Skype purchase, Microsoft will own 68% of all IM market share, Google 3.5%

June 13, 2011 | By Surur

immarketshare

OPSWAT is a company that provides software management solutions to enterprise, so they clearly have an extreme interest in knowing what’s running on the PCs of their users.

They have collected 43000 data points using their software running on real PCs and revealed interesting information about the real market share of applications.

Of most interest to us is the market share of instant messaging clients, and what is very clear from their data is that the Microsoft’s Skype deal did not just buy another IM network, but bought a monopoly on the market, just as we speculated.

Looking at their numbers, the much underrated Windows Live Messenger had the largest share, with 40.67%, followed by Skype at 27.39%. Combined the share is more than 68%.

Google Talk, for all its vaunted mind share with the digirati, had no more than 3.5% market share world wide.

Of course the data did not account for all IM usage, excluding Facebook Chat and web-based Google Chat, but then Microsoft already supports Facebook Chat very well with Messenger, so we do not think it changes the numbers massively.

Windows Phone 7.5 will feature deal IM integration, allowing users to use it in place of text messaging, and will for the first time also have a Skype client.

If Microsoft integrates the two services rapidly the network effect should be massive, which will tremendously increase the value of their investment, making that $8.5 billion seem pretty reasonable.

The report can be downloaded here.

Via Winrumours.com

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged IM, mango, skype, windows phone 7.5

Anonymous

“Of course the data did not account for all IM usage, excluding Facebook Chat and web-based Google Chat,” that’s a HUGE issue with these stats. I know that Live Messenger is much more popular overseas, but I can count on one hand the amount of people that I know who use the service, my sister and one of my cousins. AIM and Google Talk rule the IM world here in the USA, though Skype is the most popular for video chat (despite that video chat in the Gmail web app works pretty nicely).

I don’t know anyone that uses the Google Talk desktop app, but I have nearly 100 friends and family that use the Google Talk web client for IM, and almost everyone that I know uses Facebook Chat in the web portal. These stats do not mean much if they cannot account for web apps.

Anonymous

“AIM and Google Talk rule the IM world here in the USA”

Evidence please

http://www.facebook.com/people/Clint-Curry/100000764137308 Clint Curry

I don’t know one person who still uses AIM, let alone google talk!

http://twitter.com/EDDSfkoff Rick Dodkins

“AIM and Google Talk rule the IM world here in the USA” that’s the funniest thing i’ve heard all day.

Anonymous

Well, besides Facebook, which is by far the most popular IM protocol in the USA, easily. Seriously, unless you live in some weird bubble, NOBODY is using Live Messenger.

Meekermoloko

That is not true. I live in the U.S. and use Live Messenger and I have dozens of contacts on my list that also use it. Plus, Yahoo Messenger works with Live Messenger as well … and there are many people in my list that use that as well.
Anonymous

Live messenger is used by a lot of my friends in the US. Last I read, I believe they said it has well over 350 million users. GTalk in that comparison stands very small.

Anonymous

Also, just noticed that you’re not even from the USA, so I’m sure you’re an expert on what IM clients we use here. ~_^

Anonymous

I’d also like to add that I WISH people were using Messenger in the USA, because then I could video chat with friends and family using Kinect. Unfortunately, it’s just not the reality, and you’re delirious if you think otherwise.

MS adding Skype to Xbox and Windows Phone will be great because I know plenty of people that actually use that service; can’t say the same for Messenger.

Anonymous

Yes, people do use it. Have plenty of contacts and friends here in the US!

http://twitter.com/rdubmu Robert

One nice thing about Windows Live Messager is that you can incorporate Facebook Chat into it. I have contacts on both. The main reason I used Windows Live Messager is because back when I was younger in 1997-2001, I used it for High School. We had AOL when I was younger but I always used MSN Messager. I still have all my contact from back then. The only downside to Windows Live is that you get a lot of spam IM’s.

http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

I notice I get just as many spam IMs with Yahoo as well
http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

Before DSL because mainstream we had dail-up AOL so I used that and AIM. I loved it now I hate it, lol. We got MSN at some point back then so I’ve also had an @msn address for a while too but never really liked Live Messenger until a few years ago. The Facebook integration is great and always configure WLM for my clients who use FBC. Plus, it’s cross-platform with Yahoo! Messenger so that’s a benefit too.

http://twitter.com/rdubmu Robert

One nice thing about Windows Live Messager is that you can incorporate Facebook Chat into it. I have contacts on both. The main reason I used Windows Live Messager is because back when I was younger in 1997-2001, I used it for High School. We had AOL when I was younger but I always used MSN Messager. I still have all my contact from back then. The only downside to Windows Live is that you get a lot of spam IM’s.
http://twitter.com/L4MBROS Lp.

not underrated if it’s the leader right?
Anonymous

And some people think Microsoft don’t know what they’re doing…
http://www.facebook.com/people/Marco-Ruiz/741463237 Marco Ruiz

With these companies in its arsenal, MS has the capability to make windows phone 7s the best communication devices, with instant messaging and video chat. This will happen if it can implement all of these different services as one consolidated menu under each contact.
Avatar Roku

What about Facebook chat? Why isn’t that included?

What is the inherent value in owning the chat market if it has not been monetized?
Anonymous

Live Messenger already integrates Facebook chat if you choose to … WP7 will have, MSN, Facebook chat, as well as AIM built-in… Messenger also supports Yahoo and AIM accounts for cross platform chatting …

Not sure how any of that will translate into $$$$, but for now, Microsoft owns the IM market …

http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

Do you have a source for the AIM integration. I saw someone else mention it but haven’t seen anything official. I also watched the Mango keynote. It would be crazy if they did have aim because it’s still really popular in the US for those who do IM. I actually hate it now and much prefer Live Messenger, but unfortunately the world doesn’t revolve around what I like lol, dammit it

http://twitter.com/BlackMind_XP JJ

Other smartphones have them too.. its just with software, not in the OS. It does not look that big of a deal, atleast for me. Many people use them now and we wait =/
markiz

there was a “contest” at gizmodo, voting for a best IM desktop application. when i mentioned messenger, they pissed on me, saying nobody uses that old fart. i believed them, and thought to myself that maybe just my inner circle of people use it.

now i’m confused again. but also very excited for mango. that will be awesome.
markiz

there was a “contest” at gizmodo, voting for a best IM desktop application. when i mentioned messenger, they pissed on me, saying nobody uses that old fart. i believed them, and thought to myself that maybe just my inner circle of people use it.

now i’m confused again. but also very excited for mango. that will be awesome.
markiz

there was a “contest” at gizmodo, voting for a best IM desktop application. when i mentioned messenger, they pissed on me, saying nobody uses that old fart. i believed them, and thought to myself that maybe just my inner circle of people use it.

now i’m confused again. but also very excited for mango. that will be awesome.