The latest Nielsen report is a fabulous overview on the adoption of mobile video on the cellphone. Clearly the growth of smartphones, 3G networks and "all you can eat" data plans is easing the consumer into this latest mobile data phenom. According to Nielsen, 109 M mobile consumers have the capability to view mobile video, and out of that there were 10.3 M mobile viewers in the 3rd quarter of 2008. This represents a significant (14%) growth over the previous quarter.
Is this a pivot upwards? It is still early to tell, but their are critical mass factors. Users are accessing mobile video in a number of ways - through subscriptions, downloads, mobile web and through applications. Users are paying for the service (on average $7.32 per month) which means revenue in the pocket of content providers, carriers and publishers - which is clearly an incentive.
But there has not been that "big boom" factor such as when Broadcast.com streamed the Victoria Secret Fashion show online and brought down servers across the Internet. That was a seminal event that showed online internet video could be a mass medium. Mobile video has not reached that point yet. But it might be right around the corner.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Are smartphones the latest fad?
There is noise this week from both Dell and Acer that the companies might be readying smartphone announcements for the upcoming GSMA World Congress. Is this a new
growth area for PC companies looking to break-out from the traditional slim margin,
highly competitive computer industry? If so, what are these companies seeing in the
marketplace that would propel them to enter a market with traditional entrenched competitors
such as RIM, Nokia, Sony, HTC, Samsung and of course Apple.
For one thing, these companies are seeing tremendous growth. According to IDC smartphone
shipments are expected to double from 157M worldwide shipments in 2008 to 301 million
shipments in 2012. Double digit growth is not something PC companies typically see. But
perhaps these companies also see the opportunity to create new channels and product
packaging to the end user - outside of the traditional retail phone distribution we see today.
It is not impossible to visualize companies like Dell and Acer bundling their PC and smartphone
products together, and wrapping the entire solution in a service bundle that ensures data
synchronicity, access to mobile application stores and media and entertainment bundles. While
the PC only generates nominal revenue for Dell after it lands in the hands of its customers,
smartphones could generate a lot more revenue from application and data service revenue.
growth area for PC companies looking to break-out from the traditional slim margin,
highly competitive computer industry? If so, what are these companies seeing in the
marketplace that would propel them to enter a market with traditional entrenched competitors
such as RIM, Nokia, Sony, HTC, Samsung and of course Apple.
For one thing, these companies are seeing tremendous growth. According to IDC smartphone
shipments are expected to double from 157M worldwide shipments in 2008 to 301 million
shipments in 2012. Double digit growth is not something PC companies typically see. But
perhaps these companies also see the opportunity to create new channels and product
packaging to the end user - outside of the traditional retail phone distribution we see today.
It is not impossible to visualize companies like Dell and Acer bundling their PC and smartphone
products together, and wrapping the entire solution in a service bundle that ensures data
synchronicity, access to mobile application stores and media and entertainment bundles. While
the PC only generates nominal revenue for Dell after it lands in the hands of its customers,
smartphones could generate a lot more revenue from application and data service revenue.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Bright spots in latest AT&T report
While AT&T's latest earnings report shows a 23% fall-off compared
with last year, there were a number of brightspots that point to some
significant trends in the wireless industry.
+ 1.9 million iPhones were activated bringing 760K new customers to
AT&T, with, most importantly, higher ARPU
+ Wireless data revenues jumped 51% to $3.1B - with growth from
smartphone uptakes which in turn has lead to growth in Wireless
Internet access and messaging.
+ "Smartphone usage more than doubled over the past year"
These trends point to continued opportunities for the mobile data
marketplace.
with last year, there were a number of brightspots that point to some
significant trends in the wireless industry.
+ 1.9 million iPhones were activated bringing 760K new customers to
AT&T, with, most importantly, higher ARPU
+ Wireless data revenues jumped 51% to $3.1B - with growth from
smartphone uptakes which in turn has lead to growth in Wireless
Internet access and messaging.
+ "Smartphone usage more than doubled over the past year"
These trends point to continued opportunities for the mobile data
marketplace.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Palm pre = pretty revolutionary
I just got finished viewing the Palm pre launch from CES. It is an amazing
device, and I believe it is going to give the iPhone a run for its money. The
UI is year's ahead, and I believe the crew at Palm spent a lot of time and
brain cells thinking through the various use cases that a mobile roadwarrior
and a mobile connected consumer goes through.
It is powerful yet beautiful and I would advise anyone who has the time
(about 45 minutes) to view the launch event and see how Palm has raised
the bar in the smartphone category.
Probaby the coolest and most innovative of the all the features of the phone
was not even related to the new WebOS platform. It is the Touchstone wireless
charging device.
device, and I believe it is going to give the iPhone a run for its money. The
UI is year's ahead, and I believe the crew at Palm spent a lot of time and
brain cells thinking through the various use cases that a mobile roadwarrior
and a mobile connected consumer goes through.
It is powerful yet beautiful and I would advise anyone who has the time
(about 45 minutes) to view the launch event and see how Palm has raised
the bar in the smartphone category.
Probaby the coolest and most innovative of the all the features of the phone
was not even related to the new WebOS platform. It is the Touchstone wireless
charging device.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Windows Mobile New Bag of Tricks
Interesting article by Saul Hansell in the Technology section of the January 22nd online
edition of the New York Times. "Can Windows Mobile Get the Magic Back" discusses
Microsoft's new plan to drive penetration of its mobile operating software into the handset
market. It seems the iPhone has everyone thinking new strategies on how to "reinvent"
their software platform, and Microsoft is not immune. But it's strategy looks more like
Intelligent Design as opposed to intelligent user interface, with the Windows Mobile
Operating system. Do human beings really want their phones to talk to their television
sets?
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