Google saw Android sales share gains nearly across the board, including China, the major European markets and the US, according to a new global survey data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. “In China, the WPP-owned research arm said that Android boosted its share three points, rising from 73 percent to 76.4 percent,” Marketing Land reports. “In the major European markets, the gains were nearly seven points and in the US, just over three points.”

Reddit has finally launched its own app. “Available today for both iOS and Android, the new Reddit app will not only serve as the official means for accessing Reddit on mobile amid a sea of third-party clients,” TechCrunch reports. “It will also replace Alien Blue, the popular third-party application the company acquired back in fall 2014.”

Verizon is buying a 24.5% stake in AwesomenessTV, which values the online video startup at $650 million. “AwesomenessTV, which makes programming targeted at young people, is best known for its popular YouTube channel featuring short videos on dating and celebrities,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “The company was acquired in 2013 for $33 million by DreamWorks Animation, which will now hold a 51% stake.”

The New York Times explores the tricky business of monetizing popular messaging apps, and the risk that brands and platforms run of annoying young users. “Avoiding that potential to antagonize is one reason that many messaging services have either not allowed marketing or severely limited it,” The Times notes. “Marketers are wary, too.”

Ikea has made an app for the HTC Vive that puts shoppers in a make-believe kitchen. “There are three different room styles to choose from, and you can change the color of the cabinets and drawers using the Vive's wand controllers,” Engadget reports. “Ikea has stressed, however, that the app is merely an experiment as it explores ‘the possible implications of (virtual reality) for the home.’”

Kik the messaging app popular among young users, just opened a bot store. “The Kik bot store is off to a rolling start today, with 15 bots from established companies ready and waiting for users,” TechCrunch reports. “Those include entertainment, such as Vine, Riffsy and FunnyOrDie, games, like TicTacToeBot, and other specific use apps, like The Weather Channel and fashion brand Sephora.”

Kik the messaging app popular among young users, just opened a bot store. “The Kik bot store is off to a rolling start today, with 15 bots from established companies ready and waiting for users,” TechCrunch reports. “Those include entertainment, such as Vine, Riffsy and FunnyOrDie, games, like TicTacToeBot, and other specific use apps, like The Weather Channel and fashion brand Sephora.”

Apple’s efforts to sell iPhones in India is not quite being met with open arms, Bloomberg reports. Yet, “A growing number of [Indian] industry executives are fighting the move, warning government officials in private that it’ll open the floodgates to electronic waste, jeopardize local players, and make a farce of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India program to encourage local manufacturing.”

BlackBerry sold 600,000 phones in its fiscal fourth quarter -- well below Wall Street’s expectations of 850,000. “We're finally getting a clearer picture of whether people are giving BlackBerry another chance,” CNet writes. “And things don't look good.” Analysts were expecting better things from BlackBerry's first Android-powered phone, the Priv, went on sale in November.