New Collaborative Technologies Not-All-That-New
The messaging industry is highly fragmented but includes very sizable markets such as Email Security (projected at $6.7Bn by 2013, E-mail Security Market, 2009-2013, The Radicati Group, 2009) & Instant Messaging (forecasted at over $12Bn by 2013,Mobile Messaging Futures 2009-2013, Telecoms Market Research, 2008). A new, possibly disruptive, class of messaging platform is emerging and many are wondering how it might affect the market size from an investment standpoint. These platforms are known as collaborative messaging which are cross-breed of email, IMing and real time interaction with others, the poster-child being Google Wave. 
The advent of collaborative technologies has given new dimensions to real-time productivity and communications for users worldwide. This segment of technology includes platforms like Etherpad, Shareflow, Microsoft SharePoint & Google Wave which allow multiple levels of interaction on a real-time platform incorporating aspects of email, IM, chat-rooms & document collaboration.
Currently these new technologies all operate on standard packet-based/IP or even SMTP platforms which are compatible with eachother, they would just need specialized APIs to function. These new products are simply repackaging standard data communications in more usable and dynamic platforms.
Messaging Misperception
While evaluating technologies that could impact the overall message management market, a few clarifications need to be made. There is an underlying assumption that new technologies will always supersede existing ones, and therefore, consume their market share. Generally this is correct, but in the messaging space it is critical to note that so far, all existing message platforms are ultimately built on the same IP-based architecture. While they are new products, they are designed with the same technical framework.
Email, SMS, MMS, IM and the variations produced by products like Google Wave are essentially different modes of delivery using the same packet-based communication technology. Most customizable messaging platforms will only need to be customized to fit the format-specific architecture. With this is mind, new products like Google Wave and Etherpad, could, in fact, act as a complimentary market force that will expand the messaging industry

Comments

Unknown said…
New technologies are being created in response to this threat, both to negate data security risk and improve the digital customer experience.
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June 30, 2016 at 10:17 AM
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