Utah Facebook Developer Sells Popular LDS Application

Facebook is fast becoming a platform that Micro ISV's can make a serious amount of money writing and selling applications. Facebook has an established developer program and the API is well documented. This openness makes it very easy for developers to write applications and get it into the hands of Facebook users quickly.

The Facebook phenomenon is unique because it has a very tight nit group of users. When one user recommends an application, group or event, its pretty likely anyone connected with that user will follow. That's the power of Social Networks. A budding entrepreneur may find it easy to enter this market and build a brand leading to bigger and better projects.

The rumor mill is spinning this morning surrounding the private sale of a very successful Facebook application called LDS App. Here is what the author, Jesse Stay, says about the application:

Are you a Mormon? Proudly display your beliefs with this Facebook application! The "LDS" application adds a random scripture verse to your profile, selected from the 4 standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This verse also links back to http://scriptures.lds.org so visitors to your profile can see the context of the scriptures you are sharing.

My sources, who shall remain nameless, but reliable, indicated that More Good Foundation, a Utah Non-Profit whose mission states "The More Good Foundation helps persons of all faiths find accurate information about the Mormon Church on the Internet.", appears to be the purchaser. Of course there's no comment from the organization.

My unnamed sources also speculated the price to be somewhere near $2 a user. Apparently there are around 13,000 users who have the application installed. That's a big audience, and at two dollars a user its a pretty good chunk of change. Again, not verified by the author, but I feel very confident in the rumors I've heard.

Regardless of the terms or the buyer, the point I'm really trying to make here is Facebook does have a strong platform and a consumer base willing to pay for quality applications. I wish Jesse the best of luck in further development of this product and others.

Here is a link to Jesse's original announcement regarding the LDS App.