SEVERAL FACTORS POINT TO rapidly increasing consumer acceptance of mobile video and music multimedia services from wireless carriers.
Interest in mobile video has inched up during the past three years but streaming music still leads the way, reports market research firm In-Stat. Streaming music offers many marketing benefits because it is most like familiar and successful mobile consumer services, according to the high-tech market research firm. One plus for carriers is that streaming is not subject to the same digital rights management issues involved with music file sharing.
"Streaming music, which could be marketed like satellite radio services, such as XM and Sirius, holds the most interest of all mobile multimedia for consumers, and it may be easier to deliver than video," says David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst.
According to three years of In-Stat surveys, consumer interest in mobile video is increasing, albeit not as quickly as interest in mobile music. In 2006, 14.2% of respondents could be considered likely adopters of mobile video.
The company forecasts that revenue from mobile video for entertainment purposes could grow to over $6 billion per year by 2011.
However, 44% of respondents who own music-playing handsets have not added any music files to their phones.
