OUR INDUSTRY

Can you be without your wireless phone for more than one day? As wireless phones and technology are constantly evolving, they have increasingly become more than just a tool to make and receive calls. Instead they have transformed into a platform for internet access, email on the go, GPS with turn by turn directions, picture and video messaging, streaming TV broadcasts and more to not only function as a communications device, but a remote control for our lives.

Today’s wireless customers have benefited from better coverage, lower prices and developing technology. Traditional landline phone accounts are on the decline and more than ever households are going wireless with not only phones but wireless modems and other ancillary products. As of 2007, there were 255 million wireless subscribers and $138 billion dollars were generated in revenue. Since studies predict exponential growth in wireless across multiple platforms, it is our belief small business owners could not be involved in a better industry.

• Study: Americans rely more on cell phones
  Americans would rather give up the Internet, TV and traditional land-line phones than their mobile handsets, according to a report from Pew Internet and American Life Project. It marks the first time cell phones outperformed land lines in the study, which last surveyed people on the subject less than two years ago. Yahoo!/Associated Press (3/5)
• Consumers want more services on mobile phones
  Consumers are becoming well aware of advanced cell phone features and are increasingly likely to subscribe to services that provide multimedia applications like music, video, GPS, e-mail and Internet access, according to a consumer-electronics industry survey. The survey projected U.S. factory-level smartphone sales will grow 31.7% this year while other types of cell phones will decline 1%. TWICE (3/7)
• Mobile data to hit $300 billion by 2012
  
  Almost 30% of all revenue from mobile services by 2012 will come from mobile data, according to a report out of Pyramid Research, as opposed to just 19% in 2007. The research firm estimates that mobile data will account for $300 billion in revenue by 2012, with most of that coming from developed markets.
  cellular-news (U.K.) (4/15/08)
• Navigation to reach $240 billion in revenue by 2013
  GPS systems and devices will combine to generate $240 billion in revenue within five years, according to ABI Research. Still, according to ABI analysts, GPS-based devices face indoor-operation challenges. cellular-news (U.K.) (4/28)
• Study: Spending on mobile media to hit $102 billion by 2012
  Overall mobile-media spending will skyrocket to $102 billion by 2012, more than doubling the $47 billion spent in 2007, according to a new study from Strategy Analytics. Senior analyst Nitesh Patel, Global Wireless Practice, attributes the trend to a number of factors, including more attractive mobile-data pricing, increased partnerships between operators and media brands and more user-friendly devices. cellular-news (U.K.) (4/17)