Presence and Converged Services Will Drive Messaging Usage
The availability of Presence information - status text, availability, mood and even potentially location - within mobile messaging services, such as mobile instant messaging, would drive UK mobile users to communicate more regularly, a survey by Colibria (which sells presence based services) has revealed. The survey of 2,000 online respondents in Britain found that over 80% of respondents interested in mobile instant messaging (MIM) would be more likely to chat with contacts - friends, family and colleagues - on their mobile phone if they could see their availability or mood, for example.
The survey highlighted what is being increasingly known as “contextual communication”, where consumers are actively using technology to express themselves as a direct extension of their personality. Today’s consumers insist on customising their profiles, which started with social networking sites such as Facebook, by continually updating their status, availability, mood and even interests to drive enhanced levels of communication. 43% of those surveyed admitted that they would update their Presence information on their mobile every day, with 17% updating a few times a day and 5% constantly updating throughout the day.
In addition, two thirds of respondents (58%) stated that if available they would use a MIM service to chat to their friends on their TV or even via their gaming console.
This desire to be constantly in touch with peers shows just how converged services must accelerate to meet what is already a growing demand from consumers.
The revenue opportunity with these new generation messaging services is intrinsically linked to providing key features for the consumer, such as Presence. Respondents stated that they are willing to pay to access new generation services, such as MIM, with key features such as Presence and multimedia sharing key to delivering the added value required. An equal split of respondents indicated that they want to use mobilized Internet services to communicate, combined with enhanced messaging services from their operator. This indicates that the two worlds of mobile operator services and the internet are merging with a key focus in the industry on interoperability, working towards the interconnected world that consumers are now demanding.
“Our survey shows that British mobile users want the ability to develop and express their identities through their mobile phone, regardless of where they are or what they’re doing - something we call ‘rich profile’. There are several key building blocks for operator services to evolve and meet this new demand. SMS is still an important communication medium, but today's mobile users are also looking towards new technologies such as MIM, Presence and other multimedia services to enhance levels of interactivity and personal expression,” commented Matt Hooper, EVP Marketing of Colibria. “In addition to this, mobile users want a combination of operator and Internet based services to help them run their lives, which points to a greater focus on creating a fully interconnected world.”
Frost & Sullivan have predicted that MIM and Presence will drive the growth of mobile messaging and represents a market worth $6.1b by 2012
Posted to the site on 8th May 2008
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