'Ping' for iTunes...

Ping is a funny thing. Ping is a form of direct messaging or chatting with a multi/social media sauce poored over it.

At first, Research In Motion (or RIM) - you probably know them a lot better if I say that they are the developpers of the 'Blackberry' phone - came with Ping. Like I said, a direct messaging service from Blackberry to Blackberry. Fast texting and also fast and easy image/video/music sharing. Because Blackberry (I use Blackberry also when I mean RIM, it reads a lot faster)has developed their own 'ping-servers' they could deliver the speed which made Ping such a success. It was also an exclusive deal for Blackberry users. They suddenly had their own 'community'.

But - as with all good ideas - other manufacters started to create their own version of Ping. Now you have next to Ping for Blackberry, also Ping for iPhone, Ping for Android and Ping for Samsung. Even ping for Symbian (Nokia) has been made.

Then I'm forgetting one. Ping for iTunes. A try from Apple to get on board of the 'ping succes train'. Ping for iTunes should be a social media or social community for Apple/iTunes users specified to music. First thought of a music lover like myself: Very good idea! Start using it one or two times; Second thought: well, this is it?

And that is why Apple 'fails' with their 'Ping'. It is to specified. The target group of users is to narrow. And what can you do? You can 'ping' a song. People can see what you like and you can discuss with each other. Apple has build a 'click-and-buy' function into this Ping service to create a larger cashflow. Well, that could work with over 50 million users. And yes, 50 million user is a large number, compared to the most popular social media website Facebook - with over 500 million users - it stays nowhere.

And the reviews on the internet aren't that positive as well. For example: visit Google and search for 'itunes ping' and almost the half of the results contain news and opinions about why it doesn't work.

And that's too bad. I am an 'Apple fan boy' and this message isn't a burn of for Apple product (I find them most of the time so much better than any other product). I think it is my own dissapointment in the brand I like so much. With all the potential they have they tried this.

Well, at least they tried! And maybe, I even could get positive about this iTunes Ping. Has anyone got the cashflow numbers?