Mobile Social Networking

Mobile Social Networking includes a diverse portfolio of technologies and services ranging from simple chat room services where people can meet others and join affinity groups with only texting tools, to multimedia-rich environments and UGC sharing communities which persist after the user logs off.

This is a VERY HOT segment of the mobile telecommunications industry based on incessant media coverage and strong interest from subscribers, but there’s also tremendous confusion about what Mobile Social Networking covers, who is participating, who should be responsible for what and how to take advantage of the opportunities.

A tidal wave of new products and services for Mobile Social Networking hit the market in 2007. The number of subscribers exceeded 50M worldwide and is growing at double digit rates. Simply put, Mobile Social Networking is reaching its first boiling point and everyone wants to participate. The wave of activity will rise in 2008 and reach monsoonal proportions in the years ahead.

Research reveals

While some say that it is only a nascent industry, a strong case can also be made that Mobile Social Networking has been developing and evolving for at least the past five years. It was previously perceived as a small segment of the larger communications industry and has only recently begun to blossom.

Going forward, the growth of the mobile social networking industry is multi-directional. It spans:

1. high growth in number of active registered users,
2. high change in the usage patterns of users in different categories, all pointing upwards,
3. high growth in the number and variety in the types of services offered and
4. high growth in the number of companies participating in the value chains.

The report

PEREY Research & Consulting prepared a report to capture all that was known about Mobile Social Networking at the time of publication (January 2008). The Informa Telecoms & Media Mobile Social Networking: Communities and Content on the Move report is the essential guide for all companies participating in or planning to enter the industry. It explains where vendor groups are positioned in different value chains, what the users are seeking and the directions in which the market will evolve.

The 270-page strategic report includes over 130 figures.

The forecasts

The forecasts in this report describe an industry with an extremely high potential for growth. The 2007-2012 compound annual growth rates of Mobile Social Networking segments in all regions of the world approach or exceed 50%.

The forecasts depict three scenarios for user and revenue growth. In the most conservative scenario, the revenues from mobile communities in 2007 were approximately US$3.4B worldwide, an Average Income Generated per User of US$62/year, US$5.1/month. In this scenario, the revenues of combined revenue streams are predicted to climb to US$28B in 2012. If the elements around Mobile Social Networking fall into place and there are no significant disruptions to the evolution of the industry, as predicted in the high growth scenario, the global revenues in this market could reach US$52B by 2012.

To learn more about the Market Research report, download or view the brochure, or to order a copy go to www.informatm.com/msn.

If you feel that you must read the Executive Summary of this report to determine its value to you or your company, please contact us by e-mail. Clearly explain your question or express your request for additional information in the e-mail.

The Companion Volume

Based on research conducted in December 2007 for the Mobile Social Networking strategic report, Informa estimates that there are at least 50 unique mobile services available to businesses and consumers worldwide which meet the definition of mobile social networks, as defined in the strategic report. In addition, there are at least 30 examples of subtle variations on a few of the basic services provided by some mobile community operators who white label their offering(s). A subtle variation can be a service consisting of a community only offered to and permitting registrations exclusively from the subscribers of one mobile network operator, but in essence being the identical service to that which is offered by another mobile network operator to its subscribers.

This volume contains comprehensive examinations of the service features, the business models and the opportunities ahead for 31 Mobile Social Networking services. With the exception of WebFives which was temporarily closed as of December 31, 2007 and Next2Friends and Piczo Mobile which officially begin commercial operations in January 2008, the services described in the profiles were in full operation on January 1, 2008.

In addition to the detailed profiles, this companion to the Mobile Social Networking strategic report tabulates the service features and the estimated or confirmed sizes of the networks at the time of publication. The table permits services to be compared, side-by-side, at a glance.

The Mobile Social Networking strategic report contains detailed definitions of the features as well as the community segmentation and types which are used in this companion product.

To learn more about the Companion Volume, go to www.informatm.com/msncompanion.

Services

The Mobile Social Networking industry is evolving rapidly. We stay on top of all the changes and continually analyse the impacts of various trends on the markets and segments in the industry.

PEREY Research & Consulting can assist executives in your company to understand Mobile Social Networking and to develop or measure the value proposition your company can offer, to adjust your strategies to take advantage of new developments and to win more business. Your company could move from being a footnote to a leader in this area with one-time or ongoing services.

Ask about

Workshops, seminars and presentations about Mobile Social Networking market

Custom risk and opportunity analyses

Platform and technology road-mapping (based on current feature analyses)

Strategy/planning

1. Revenue streams
2. Value chain and partner positioning
3. Brand recognition and business visibility
4. Community development

Services are available on a one-time or ongoing basis.

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All rights reserved - Christine Perey, 2008