According to the Yankee Group report, Mobile Data Market Growth Remains on Course in Western Europe, carrier revenues from wireless data revenue and the monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) are rising across Western Europe.

Consumers are now moving beyond person-to-person text messaging (called short message service or SMS) to using data content services and applications.

The report presents the Yankee Group's 2003 forecasts for mobile data revenue, users, and ARPU in Western Europe, broken down by key application and technology segments. Highlights include:

Mobile service revenue will rise from E121 billion in 2003 to E143 billion in 2007. Some E42 billion, or 30 percent, will come from mobile data.

Non-P2P messaging will grow to account for 40 percent for mobile data revenue, with about half the region's total installed base regularly using data content services by 2007.

Data ARPU will increase from E4.89 per month in 2003 to almost E10 per month in 2007.

About one in three mobile users will actively use multimedia messaging service or MMS in 2007. E-mail and instant messaging also will find traction, but SMS will remain the dominant P2P messaging medium.

"Mobile network operators are in the unenviable position of having to stimulate and develop what is practically a completely new industry," says Farid Yunus, Yankee Group Wireless/Mobile Europe senior analyst. "At the same time, they face opposing pressures to maintain voice service margins while investing in mobile data infrastructure. Although handset manufacturers, software developers, and content providers have interests and roles, carriers play the most critical role in setting customer expectations and fulfilling them."

Search For More Info

Web www.cellular.co.za