The US has started to catch up on the text-messaging trend, after trailing behind other advanced wireless markets when it comes to text and other messaging usage, according to a new report from Analysys Research.
Overall, very little of the revenue brought in by US mobile operators originated from wireless data in 2004, reflecting a weak US mobile messaging market.
However, messaging in the US enjoyed a healthy performance last year, with Analysys claiming that the average user increased messaging activity by 50%, and predicting messaging to account for 10% of US operators’ revenues by 2008.
A study published earlier this year by the Yankee Group indicated that awareness of text messaging is on the rise in the US, with consumers increasingly using their mobile handsets for ringtones, and music or video downloads.
According to a survey by M:Metrics, downloading ring tones was the fourth most popular mobile content activity performed by US mobile subscribers, behind text messaging, searching for news and information online and using personal email (see Multi Use Of Mobile Handsets).
This trend is confirmed by research from LogicaCMG which found that almost a fifth of mobile phone users world-wide have downloaded content to their phones with the technology forecast to see a 60% increase in one year’s time (see Mobile Downloading To Rise By 60%).
In an increasingly competitive market place, providers are offering packages on mobile phone services in an effort to increase usage of messaging and incorporating audio and video capabilities in the deal.
Alex Zadvorny of Analysys explained: “For a flat monthly fee, a subscriber can now sign up for a messaging bundle and send any combination of text, instant picture and video message.”
He continued: “Such bundles have the potential to significantly increase usage and revenue from messaging, and could be implemented by operators in other markets.”
Elsewhere, in Japan mobile phone users are predicted to spend $28 billion on mobile data products by 2010, up from almost $17 billion this year, fuelled by the strong growth exhibited by the Japanese download market (see Japanese Mobile Users Forecast To Spend $28 Billion By 2010).
According to new research released by Strategy Analytics, real tones and full music track downloading are the strongest performers within the market.
Related Links
