ENLARGE With its new Wink product, startup Emogi can send branded emojis to the text fields of people's messaging apps Photo: EmogiA new tech product from startup Emogi is offering a glimpse into how data-rich messaging apps might make money from brands. Ad buyers can serve targeted ads to people on websites and in mobile apps, but access to the text fields in messaging apps has typically been off-limits. Emogi’s unique access to those text fields comes from the messaging apps, which get a cut of ad revenue from the brands. In addition to its partnership with Kik, Emogi is in talks with a number of dating apps and other messaging apps. The advertiser doesn’t pay based on how many people use or share the actual branded emojis.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 23, 2016 09:56 UTC