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Mobile web subscriber market 2008
27/06/08
The number of
subscribers using mobile Internet services will rise from 577
million currently, to top 1.7bn by 2013, spurred by demand for
collaborative applications known collectively as ‘web 2.0’, and
greater 2.5/3G penetration.
Established mobile players face increasing competition from
web-based brands and will have to adapt their commercial strategies
to accommodate greater collaboration with other members of the value
chain, if future revenue growth in the mobile web 2.0 space is to be
achieved.
An Open Mobile Internet
According to a new report from Juniper Research, the emergence of
applications such as: Social networking; User Generated Content (UGC);
Instant Messaging (IM); Location Based Services (LBS); Search calls
for delivery of the mobile Internet as it was originally conceived –
i.e. an open environment in which users are able to share,
collaborate and exploit content/information without any one party
controlling the value chain.
This marks a fundamental shift for the industry towards the D2C
(direct-to consumer) model and places growing pressure on mobile
network operators (MNOs) and handset manufacturers in particular, to
relinquish some of their control over the value chain, by opening up
their networks/devices to third-parties.
New Business Models
“Major web players have already crossed the Rubicon and established
themselves in the mobile domain, placing the onus on MNOs and other
members of the value chain to form innovative relationships and grab
a share of the new revenue streams being created,”
- comments Ian Chard, Juniper Research Analyst and author of the
report ‘Mobile Web 2.0: Leveraging ‘Location, IM, Social Web &
Search 2008-2013’.
“The mobile web 2.0 market is still nascent and business models
remain in a state of flux, so there is still time for players to
establish fruitful partnerships that build on their strengths and
are reciprocally beneficial. The window of opportunity, however, is
closing.”
Other findings from the report
• The Far East & China region will be the largest market for mobile
web, reaching almost 416 million users by 2013, up from a year-end
figure of 190 million users in 2008
• The greatest untapped potential for mobile web lies in South
America, while growth will be more measured in markets such as
Eastern and Western Europe – where fixed broadband penetration is
relatively high
• As with the fixed Internet, many mobile web 2.0 applications will
need to be provided at base cost/flat-data rates (or even free of
charge), forcing industry players to seek new revenue streams
Juniper Research assesses the current and future status of the
Mobile Web 2.0 market based on interviews, case studies and analysis
from representatives of some of the organisations leading this
growing market.
Whitepapers and further details of the study ‘Mobile Web 2.0:
Leveraging ‘Location, IM, Social Web & Search 2008-2013’ can be
freely downloaded from
www.juniperresearch.com
Nick Gibson, editor
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