Revenues for location-based mobile services about to boom
Global revenues for mobile location based services (MLBS) and location-enabled mobile apps will reach more than $12.7 billion by 2014, according to Juniper Research.
The greatest number of users is currently in the Far East and China, as Japan and South Korea were early adopters of MLBS technology. However, as the Chinese market develops and continues to have better access to 3G mobile networks, China will become the number one market for MLBS, said Juniper.
The MLBS market was fairly stagnant from 2000-2007, but began accelerating in 2008 and 2009, and should only develop even more quickly in the next few years. One of the biggest drivers for MLBS growth has been the launch of the Apple iPhone and Apple iTunes stores. These events fundamentally changed how developers and users view mobile phone apps, and also introduced large numbers of consumers to the concept of mobile apps.
In addition, high-capacity infrastructure has penetrated most major markets, with 20% of mobile users in Western Europe and North America having 3G access in 2009 and 80% expected to have 3G access by 2014. Similarly, 25% of global mobile users had mobile internet access in 2009, and 80% should by 2014.
A recent survey by Deloitte found that approximately one in five UK consumers now owns a smartphone that can check email and go online.
The study, State of the Media Democracy, found that 21% of consumers are using smartphones and that they ranked fourth among owners in terms of the product they value most.