With the dramatic changes in interpersonal communication over the past decade, Internet messaging has emerged as the primary medium for transferring information quickly, inexpensively, and reliably. However, the growing popularity of wireless telephones has added another dimension to the communications equation—mobility. As more Americans rely on cellular communication, this market is expected to see explosive growth over the forecast period.

This Frost and Sullivan study provides a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. mobile messaging markets including in-depth coverage of the wireless email, short messaging services (SMS), multimedia messaging services (MMS), and wireless instant messaging (WIM) segments. By examining corporate versus consumer forecasts and identifying emerging technology trends, this research provides companies the information necessary for success.

Transition to Packet-Switched Technologies Propel Sales

Wireless networks are rapidly evolving from circuit-switched to internet protocol based, packet-switched solutions. While faster bandwidths, constant connectivity, and enhanced applications will drive the adoption of these services, it is the substantial end-user benefits that will boost sales. "Consumers are increasingly demanding real-time, peer-to-peer messaging capabilities for applications such as instant messaging and multimedia messaging," says the study’s author. "The ability to be constantly connected at affordable prices is a primary benefit of packet-based networks."

New Interoperability Standards Help Corporate and Consumer Markets

The mobile messaging services industry has experienced interoperability constraints that have resulted in this potential market’s search for a protocol. In late 2001, U.S. operators were using six different messaging protocols for data transference.

"This inherent lack of network interconnectivity has led limited the adoption of SMS in the U.S.," states the author. "To overcome this challenge, infrastructure vendors are currently defining standard protocols to enable seamless connectivity."

The corporate market was the early adopter of these services, but recent network deployments, device launches, and new protocols have made them more attractive to the consumer segment. The advent of MMS and the functionality of WIM has broader end-user appeal, which will transform mobile messaging into a predominantly consumer market.

This Frost and Sullivan research offers the most up-to-date intelligence on the U.S. mobile messaging industry, enabling participants to implement effective investment strategies.