WITH MORE AND MORE people blogging via their mobile phones, which are of course camera-equipped, the trend may be a growing way for wireless carriers to monetize handsets in the market, reports market research firm In-Stat.
The word moblog is, obviously, a combination of the words mobile and blog and the abundance of web sites dedicated to moblogging and photo-blogging indicates there is a growing interest in combining social networking with camera phone technology, says the company.
"This growing focus provides financial opportunities for mobile device networks, social networking site operators, and software developers," said Jill Meyers, In-Stat analyst, in the company’s press release. "Mobile device networks can benefit through traditional methods of data plans, as well as per-message and per-photo charges."
Other research highlights say:
* Software developers have a unique opportunity to focus on developing a series of mobile Internet applications for a greatly desired market segment.
* More than 60% of U.S. mobile phone users have camera functionality in their phones this year, up from about 40% in 2006.
* In-Stat predicts more than one billion camera phones will be in use by year-end 2007.
