Mobile Messaging Services

For several years, mobile operators in mature markets have had to deal with a heavy deceleration in their voice revenue growth. They have satisfied that objective, in part, by setting targets for growth in the percentage of their revenues that come from data services. However, 'data' is a widely encompassing term. In the consumer market it includes such diverse services as downloading games, accessing traffic reports and watching TV. There is, however, a clear distinction between data services that are basically about content and those that are basically about communications: in other words, messaging.

Mobile operators are moving to build up their content revenues, but the process is a very challenging one. It requires them, in effect, to become media companies, and to build the organisational structures, business relationships and marketing strategies that the media business demands. By contrast, messaging is an easier line of business for operators to develop, because they are already communications companies. Messaging demands some adaptation of an operator's traditional business, but it does not require them to enter an entirely new business.

This report provides an overview of the mobile messaging market, and examines the current status and prospects for MMS, mobile email and mobile instant messaging.