SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 27, 2008 -
Mobile social networks are quite popular with the Millennial generation, just as social networking is, reports In-Stat http://www.in-stat.com . Blogging, photo and video sharing, location-based socialization services, games, SMS, and IM will eventually be combined to afford the mobile user the entire social networking experience from a handset application, the high-tech market research firm says. The mobile handset will simply become an extension of the user in most aspects of life.
“The critical issue most mobile social networking site and application developers struggle with is how to make money with their services,” says Jill Meyers, In-Stat analyst. “There are three primary methods of revenue generation for mobile social networking applications— advertising, subscription services, and premium upgrades.”
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
In-Stat predicts a steady growth rate culminating in the number of US millennials subscribing to mobile social networking reaching nearly 30 million by the year 2012.
Social network advertising continues to be experimental to marketers, but 2008 revenues are predicted to be over $1.5 billon.
Last year’s introduction of the iPhone enabled the least techno-savvy user to surf the Internet, download and play music, take pictures, send messages, and record videos, all on a thin, touch-screen-operated unit. This has changed mobile phone users’ expectations.
Recent In-Stat research, US Mobile Social Networking and the Millennial Generation (#IN0804034MCM), covers the worldwide market for mobile social networking. It provides results of In-Stat’s 2007 Consumer Mobility Study (CMS), drawn from a random selection of US residents subscribing to a wireless service. It also analyzes market drivers and barriers, and provides a forecast of mobile social networking users worldwide through 2012. A roundup of US mobile social network providers is included.
This research is part of In-Stat’s Mobile Consumer service. As cellular operators struggle to increase revenue per subscriber and decrease churn, an in-depth understanding of the mobile consumer is integral to success. This service provides extensive end-user research, strategic industry analysis, and technology assessments to provide an insightful view of the US mobile consumer market. It examines the markets for wireless data and multimedia applications, with topical research on those applications and services which will drive growth in the wireless consumer market space. The service also provides global perspectives where these offer insights of value in the US market.
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In-Stat’s market intelligence combines technical, market and end-user research and database models to analyze the Mobile Internet and Digital Entertainment ecosystems. Our insights are derived from a deep understanding of technology impacts, nearly 30 years of history in research and consulting, and direct relationships with leading players in each of our core markets. In-Stat provides its research through reports, annual subscriptions, consulting and advisory services to inform critical decisions. Technology and semiconductor vendors, infrastructure and device manufacturers, service providers and media companies worldwide rely on partnerships with In-Stat’s tenured, experienced staff and on our in-depth market intelligence to support critical business, product and technology decisions.
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