Total Mobile Messaging Opportunity Expands to $130 Billion by 2013
Boston, MA - June 10, 2009 –Strategy Analytics today released “Global Mobile Messaging Forecasts Update 2001 – 2013,” indicating that global consumer spending on mobile messaging services, such as SMS, MMS, mobile email and mobile instant messaging will rise at a 6.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2008 and 2013 to reach $130 billion. The addition of 1 billion mobile phone users in developing cellular markets will stimulate continued SMS volume and revenue growth. Similarly, rising consumer demand for email and instant messaging access on mobile devices in developed fixed internet markets will drive growth in spending on mobile messaging.
Nitesh Patel, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, noted, “Consumer appetite for email and instant messaging access on handsets is rising, and Strategy Analytics forecasts growth in spending on these services to outpace carrier SMS and MMS. The increasing availability of handsets with QWERTY keyboards, and improving email and instant messaging support on smart and feature phones, will improve usage of both mobile email and mobile instant messenger on mobile devices.”
In the US and developing cellular markets, where SMS is relatively under-penetrated, the potential for SMS volume and revenue growth remains. David MacQueen, Director at Strategy Analytics, added “Operators face continued pressure on their SMS and MMS businesses in the form of inter-carrier competition driving down average revenues per message and the rising adoption of non-carrier messaging services, like email, mobile instant messaging and social networks. Therefore, initiatives such as the Rich Communications Suite, which will enable operators to enhance the usability and functionality of their messaging services by adding presence and device capability among other features, should be viewed as strategic priorities to maintain operators’ current role in mobile messaging.”