Consumers have embraced the mobile Web: Study
November 14, 2008
Mindows Mobile Internet Explorer
As mobile Web usage continues to grow exponentially, full-featured browsers on smartphones will see the strongest growth.
Just about anyone would agree that the growth in mobile Web usage is one of the bright spots of 2008. ABI Research sees this growth continuing over the next five years, with highly capable Internet browsers on smartphones expanding from 130 million in 2008 to 530 million by 2013.
"From the strong growth in ad-calls for ad networks such as Admob to the astounding increases in page views for Opera Mini, it's very clear that consumers have embraced the use of the Web on mobile devices," said Michael Wolf, research director at ABI Research, Oyster Bay, NY.
"The increase in awareness of the Web on mobile devices -- due to the iPhone and new RIM models -- has helped contribute to this growth, as has the continued move towards flat-rate data plans by many mobile operators," he said.
ABI Research is a leading market research firm focused on the impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business markets.
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint Nextel all offer $99.99 all-you-can-eat data plans.
Also the carriers have launched much more capable smartphones as well; for example, AT&T with its iPhone 3G, Verizon and the BlackBerry Storm, Sprint and the HTC Touch and T-Mobile's Sidekick.
In addition to more capable devices, consumers' desire to access popular Web applications such as Web search, social networking and online and mobile video is giving rapid rise to both pre-installation and aftermarket downloads of capable mobile browsers.
However, much more work needs to be done to create a seamless experience for mobile users trying to access the broader Internet for rich media applications.
One would think that with the global economy showing more and more signs of slowing down, mobile data usage such as SMS and MMS would slow down as well.
However, this is an inaccurate assumption, according to ABI Research.
The company found that messaging growth will continue.
The report from ABI Research found, mobile messaging services revenues will grow from $151 billion in 2008 to greater than $212 billion globally by 2013.
Supply-side drivers will be of primary importance for maintaining this level of growth.
As messaging involves all the biggest players in the mobile industry there will be incentives for all mobile messaging suppliers to work cooperatively to serve customers well and propel all parties through these rough economic waters.
"Three-screen playback is motivating plug-in vendors such as Adobe, Microsoft and Google to put significant development into the mobile device side to enable a consistent experience across all three screens," Mr. Wolf said.
"Investment in content access and playback both in browsers and Web-based applications across various devices will help to continue this market's future growth," he said.