Earlier this week, Path launched the 3.0 version of its privacy-focused and mobile-centric social networking app. It was an update that was important for two key reasons: It debuted private messaging, and rolled out Path’s first real revenue-generating feature with a shop for premium emoji-like “stickers.” Off-camera on the sidelines of a TechCrunch TV interview today at the South By Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas, Path founder and CEO Dave Morin told me that 3.0 has made a bigger impact on the company than even the team had expected. In fact, in the first 24 hours after the 3.0 launch, Path made more money than it had in its entire lifetime as a company, total (starting with its 2.0 version, Path has collected affiliate revenue from media sales generated in the app.) And messaging has proved extremely popular, with more than 1 million messages sent by users within the first 24 hours of 3.0′s debut. I’m told he’s now announcing those figures publicly in an ongoing on-stage SXSW interview following our chat. It’s good news from the social networking app, which is universally lauded as beautifully designed and thoughtful, but has been criticized for possibly not quite making a big enough dent outside of the early adopter crowd. This is an example of Path being more forthcoming with numbers that might prove those naysayers wrong — similar to how the company recently announced that its user base numbers 6 million people — and could be an indication of more confidence from the company. We’re still processing that on-camera TCTV interview with Morin, in which we discussed 3.0 in detail as well as Path’s new hires. We’ll post that as soon as it comes through.
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