AT&T to boost online content distribution

As more companies launch websites with video and interactive features, AT&T said it will spend nearly $70 million by the end of the year to bolster its network infrastructure across the United States, Europe and parts of Asia.

[via Reuters]

Mobile internet use 'rocketing in Europe'

Europe has taken to 3G faster than any other region in the world and usage is growing rapidly as networks proliferate, according to research commissioned by mobile operator body the GSM Association. silicon.com reports.

"The EU's mobile data market grew by 40 per cent last year, to €7bn ($13.7bn), the research found, with 3G users doubling to 112 million in the year to April 2008.

The GSMA said the falling cost of 3G services, handsets and 3G-enabled laptops and dongles are helping to drive the market, and it claimed mobile broadband services in some European markets are now priced lower than comparable fixed-line broadband.

Competition from wi-fi is also helping to bring prices down, it said."

37 percent of iPhone users watch video

According to Nielsen Mobile's first-quarter 2008 data on iPhones, 37 percent of iPhone users watch video (ten times more than the average cellphone user).

[via Bits]

Video on cellphones not taking off

Americans are watching more video on their PCs -- but not on their cellphones, according to a recent study from researcher Ipsos MediaCT. USA Today reports.

"Ipsos surveyed Americans who had downloaded or streamed at least one video. (Anyone who has ever been to YouTube counts.) That group watched an average of 70% of their video on TV, down from 75% a year ago, the study says. The amount of video watched on a PC rose.

So far, the amount of video watched on a cellphone or PDA is around 1%."

3G services 'largely unused' in Australia

A third of Australian consumers own a 3G-capable phone but two thirds of these do not use the available 3G services, a new report, part of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Telecommunications Today series, has revealed. [via
Stuff.co.nz]

"Half of those who owned a 3G phone but did not use the 3G services - which include mobile internet, video calling and music streaming - had no interest in them. Others cited high costs and lack of knowledge on how to access the services.

... The low use of 3G services among those with 3G-capable mobiles was due to lack of knowledge and the historically high costs.

"Some people wouldn't even know if they're on 3G or not ... they want an [Nokia] N95 because it can play videos or has a good camera - they get a 3G phone for the features not for the fact that it's 3G," said Mark Novosel, telecommunications market analyst at IDC.

Panasonic Sells its 100 Millionth Cell Phone in Japan

Panasonic has become the first cell-phone manufacturer to ship 100 million units in the Japanese market, reports PC World.

"... Its popularity has led Panasonic to put some of the know-how from its flat-panel TV business into its latest phones. The newest models carry the same Viera brand-name as its big-screen TVs. "

More than 20 Million TV Phones Ship in Japan

Shipments of cell phones compatible with Japan's mobile digital TV service have surged to more than 20 million units in fewer than two years since launch, according to industry data released Wednesday. [via PC World]

USA. Multimedia cell phones are mainstream

As of November 2007, camera phones represented 79% of U.S. handset sales, cameras that capture video accounted for 56%, and 52% of phones could play music, according to NPD Group's Mobile Phone Track.

[via RCRWireless News]

36% use their cell phones as entertainment devices

About 38% of consumers are watching TV shows online, 36% use their cell phones as entertainment devices and 45% are creating online content like Web sites, music, videos and blogs for others, according to a new-media survey from Deloitte & Touche.

The "State of the Media Democracy" notes that in Deloitte's first edition of the survey just eight months earlier, 24% of consumers used their cell phones as entertainment devices. The current figure soars to 62% among millenials (consumers 13-to-24-years-old) compared with 46% in the previous study conducted Feb. 23-March 6, 2007. And among Generation X consumers (25-to-41-year-olds), the number grew from 47% to 29% in the earlier survey.

About 20% of consumers said they are viewing video content on their cell phones daily or almost daily."

[via The Hollywood Reporter]

Sales Of Multimedia Phones To Pass TVs Next Year

Worldwide shipments of multimedia-enabled mobile phones will exceed 300 million units next year, surpassing shipments of television sets, according to a research report being released this week by MultiMedia Intelligence. Sales of such phones will generate over $76 billion in revenue.

[via Information Week]

Shoot first, talk later

Mobile phone makers race to take lead in megapixel camera phone battle. The Traits Times reports.

"Not satisfied with (by now) measly 3-megapixel shooters, phone makers are frantically squeezing up to 5 megapixels worth of cameras into their puny handsets.

Sony Ericsson and Samsung, for instance, have just unveiled their 5-megapixel shooters this month. And even before you can say 'cheese', the new range of 10-megapixel phones are already in the works.

Samsung, for instance, has just unveiled the world's first 10-megapixel mobile phone, the SCH-B600.

Not to be outdone, camera lens maker Carl Zeiss says that its next generation of 10-megapixel cellphones will soon hit the shelves.

That is something, especially as most professional cameras have not even reached that level yet.

The surge in pixel numbers seems to be meeting the needs of local users, evident in the large number of people buying these devices.

Research firm GFK Asia says that 1.05 million camera-enabled cellphones flew off the shelves in the first six months of this year, an increase of 13 per cent over the same period in 2006."

Camera phones also made up nearly 83 per cent of all mobile phone sales in the first half of this year, with sales rising 18 per cent over the same period last year to about 870,000 units."

Picture left, Samsung's 7-megapixel camera phone.

Phone sales put pressure on digital camera

According to the The Telegraph, sales of the digital camera will fall for the first time this year as growing numbers of people rely on their mobile phones to take pictures.

According to Mintel, the market research agency, consumers have finally grown tired of the gadget that transformed the photography market and sales are predicted to fall from £951 ($1.947 )million to £890 ($1.822) million.

Fevzi Turkalp, founder of the
GadgetDetective.com , said that a range of new camera-phones out this year were causing the demise of the "small, point-and-shoot cameras."

78 Percent Of Mobile TV Viewers In Japan, Korea

Analyst firm Berg Insight has released a report that there were about 38 million viewers of mobile TV in Japan and South Korea in mid-2007, representing about 78 percent of the total mobile TV audience (implying that there are about 49 million mobile TV users globally).

[via MocoNews]

Mobile Video Audience Grew To 8 Million: MMetrics

The US mobile audience has grown by more than one-third this year to eight million, according to a new study by mobile market research firm M:Metrics. Online Media Daily reports.

"With 6.8 million viewers, viral clips have proven to be the most popular category of mobile video.

... Viewership for video delivered on-deck increased 28% since January to 2.7 milion. The increasing numbers are a promising sign for mobile publishers and advertisers, say MMetrics analysts."

...Video watchers represent only a tiny fraction of all cell phone subscribers in the U.S. Those who watched over-the-air mobile TV broadcasts and/or video clips at least once a week amounted to less than one percent."

Japanese like to print camphone pics

More than one-half of Japanese consumers say they take pictures with their camera phones several times a week, according to the Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium, reports eMarketer..

"Camera-phone photographers do like print copies of some of their work. Four in 10 consumers said they had printed out pictures taken with their camera phones. More than one-half of working women and grandmothers said they had done so.

... About 40% of respondents surveyed said that there were photos they had taken by camera phone that they would like to print."

Predictions for mobile TV in 2012

I don't believe much in predictions, because in 2012, 5 years from now, no one will compare Juniper Research with actual market igures or even remember the study. But for those who do care for numbers, here goes, via Moco News:

"There will be nearly 120 million people watching mobile broadcast TV in more than 40 countries by 201, which will generate $6.6 billion in revenue, according to Juniper Research."

Mobile operators see 10 times more potential in social networking

The success of social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and even YouTube could represent the next boom for the mobile phone operators. The Guardian reports.

"Revenues from user-generated content -such as videos and blogs created by consumers rather than media organisations - onto mobile phones is expected to rise more than tenfold over the next five years, according to estimates by Juniper Research published yesterday.

Allowing the legion of bloggers, Facebook posters and comedy clip makers to upload and view each other's every movement on their mobile phone could be worth $5.74bn (£2.87bn) by 2012, according to Juniper, from just $576m this year."

Read full article.

Camera phones will top 1B this year

The number of mobile camera phones in use will top 1 billion this year, reflecting their tremendous growth rate since they hit the market around seven years ago, according to a new market evaluation, reports Computerworld.

"Sales shot up from about 3 million camera phones in 2001 to 500 million last year, according to figures released Friday by Strategy Analytics Ltd. However, the growth will likely start to level off, said Neil Mawton, an associate director at the market research company.

Instead, people will upgrade existing camera phones, with manufacturers trying to entice them with high-end features that will dwarf what was available a few years ago, Mawton said. They will offer cameras with improved zoom capabilities, autofocus, better flashes and faster shutter speeds." Read full article.

Camera Phones Will Top 1 Billion This Year

The number of mobile camera phones in use will top 1 billion this year, reflecting their tremendous growth rate since they hit the market around seven years ago, according to a new market evaluation. [via PC World]

"Sales shot up from about 3 million camera phones in 2001 to 500 million last year, according to figures released Friday from Strategy Analytics Ltd."

'Side-Loading' Could Kill Wireless Carriers' Entertainment Plans

Despite spending billions of dollars to deliver entertainment to subscribers, wireless carriers are unlikely to dominate in providing music, video and games to mobile phones, a market researcher said Tuesday. TechWeb reports.

"The biggest challenger to operators is a practice known as "side-loading," which is the loading of content in phones via PCs or other devices. The practice essentially bypasses premium services sold by mobile communication providers, iSuppli said.

By 2010, the number of phones that include USB ports is expected to number 764 million units, making the wired connection to a PC or other device the most ubiquitous interface in the industry".

... Consumers' preference to tap multiple content sources for mobile devices has already been established. For example, most of the music played on the highly successful Apple iPod are ripped from CDs, not bought from Apple's tightly integrated online music store iTunes, analysts say.

Camera Phones Take Over

Research by market forecaster Gartner Group indicates that in 2010 over 1 billion camera-equipped cell phones will be sold worldwide, nearly double the 589 million predicted to sell this year. [via Switched]

South Korea's KTF Signs Nearly 425,000 3G Subscribers

KTF Co., South Korea's second-largest cellphone carrier by subscribers, has signed up nearly 425,000 people to the third-generation service that launched in March. Wall Street Journal reports.

After its formal launch, KTF remodeled thousands of retail outlets around the country with a new brand name, "Show." The name is also appearing as a co-brand on 3G-ready handsets from several manufacturers.

... With the new brand, KTF's marketing emphasizes the video-conferencing capabilities of 3G phones. Mr. Cho said the new service has another major selling point for the millions of Koreans who travel outside the country: greater compatibility with cellphone systems elsewhere in the world."

Mobile advertising to hit $3 billion in 2007

The worldwide mobile marketing and advertising market is expected to be worth $3 billion in 2007, according to market research firm ABI Research via News.com.

"The market will balloon to $19 billion by 2011, the firm said in a study published Tuesday.

The bulk of the revenue will be generated by advertising through mobile search and video. In particular, broadcast mobile video will see a lot of mobile marketing activity. T

The firm predicts that by 2011 video-based ads will surpass SMS as a source of mobile marketing spending, and that advertising on broadcast mobile video alone will reach about $9 billion by 2011."

Industry worries whether people will watch entertainment videos on their cell phones.

According to The Mercury News, "nearly 80 percent of Americans have cell phones, but less than 1 percent of them watch video clips regularly, averaging 10 minutes or less a week".

The rest of the article voices concerns from the entertainment industry as to whether mobile video content will catch on.

Seems so obvious to me that it will. But you can read for yourself.

Another study in the news todays finds wireless users want short video clips, not television programming. [via The Canadian Press]

Nokia biggest camera maker

Nokia said it was the world's largest camera maker last year, selling about 140 million camera phones, and the world's largest manufacturer of music devices, with 70 million music-enabled devices sold. moneyCNN reports.

"More than 850 million people have a Nokia mobile phone in their hands. No other consumer electronics company in the world has ever had such a customer base," Nokia Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said in a statement.

... Nokia said it sold almost 40 million multimedia phones last year. It said the total market for these advanced phones, also called converged devices, was 90 million units in 2006, and is expected to grow to 250 million units in 2008.

Nokia said it sold nearly 70 million music phones in 2006. It had aimed to sell 80 million music phones for the year."

More than 77 pct Chinese mobile users sure to buy 3G handsets

A survey released here Thursday claims that more than 77 percent of Chinese mobile users are keen to buy 3G handsets when they become available, reports China View.

" According to the survey by the China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID), 17 percent of users say they might buy 3G handsets and merely 6 percent of users say they would not buy one.

... China has more than 455 million mobile users and the figure is rising by more than 5 million a month. The country has been preparing for the launch of 3G service for years and is expected to issue 3G licenses next year."

High-End Cell Phones A Tough Sell

Cell phone makers want to sell pricier models, but the dearth of 3G, or third-generation, wireless networks limits their opportunities, according to Investors Business Daily

About 75% of the world's wireless networks have yet to be upgraded to 3G.

Areas without 3G include the four fastest-growing wireless nations: Brazil, Russia, India and China, known by the initials BRIC.

Only one in 10 mobile phones sold worldwide this year will be a 3G model, says market research firm Informa.

By year-end 2010, Informa forecasts that only 9% of cell phone users in BRIC countries will be using 3G phones, whereas Japan is at more than 60%."

Nearly 50 Percent of Worldwide Mobile Phones Will Have a Camera in 2006

Gartner says 48 percent of cellular phones will incorporate cameras this year and 81 percent will have them by 2010, according to the research group's pressrelease.

"Worldwide sales of camera phones will account for 48 percent of total worldwide mobile phone sales in 2006, growing to 81 percent by 2010, according to new forecasts from Gartner.

For the past three years, the market has been dominated by sales of camera phones with less than one mega pixels. This will reach 51 percent of total mobile phone sales in 2006. By 2007, Gartner predicts that more than half of the camera phones will have at least one or two mega pixels.

[via Reiter's Camera Phone Report]

Mobile User generated content set for major boost

User-generated content and communities on mobile will be worth $13.1bn (£6.95bn) within five years, according to a report by Informa Telecoms & Media and the Mobile Entertainment Forum, reports NMA.

"The value of the sector will be boosted by big online players like MySpace, Bebo and YouTube going mobile, according to the report.

MySpace and Bebo are working on their mobile strategies with no specified roll-out date, while YouTube has yet to announce any mobile plans."

Half of UK Phones have Cameras

The number of camera enabled cell phones currently in use across the UK now exceeds 33.5 million, according to The Mobile Data Association, reports Cellular News.

"This represents more than 50% of the 67 million handsets in use in the UK today."

Worldwide Camera Phone Installed to reach 850 million units in 2006

According to a new forecast by Lyra Research, the digital imaging authority, camera phones have now become the most prevalent image-capture devices in the world. The global installed base of camera phones has now surpassed that of film and digital cameras combined. ]via PRWeb ]

"Lyra estimates that the installed base of camera phones will reach approximately 850 million units in 2006, and this number is expected to grow to more than 1.5 billion units in 2010."

MMS Usage Up 40% In The US

Messaging company Mobile365 says the number of mobile-originated MMS messages it processed in the US increased 40% from the first to the second quarter, a pretty significant jump. [via MobHappy]

People text more than they take/send pictures

A report from Jupiter Research is being picked up by the press all over the Web, on how "text messaging remains the most accepted data service with 79 per cent adoption ". According to SiliconValley.com, "MMS trails a long way behind, with 28 per cent take-up by European mobile users".

What this report is really saying is that people use their cell phone more for texting and calling than taking and sending pictures. Which makes perfect sense. Isn't calling/texting more necessary than taking/sending pictures?.

Few US consumers sending pictures from camera phones

Only one in five US consumer's is using their cameraphone to send photos to others, NPD Group market research firm said on Monday, reports ITNEws.

"Four out of five camera-phone owners say they leave their pictures in the devices, as if they were portable digital photo albums. As a result, the level of actual photo sharing has been disappointing for carriers."

Cost was the biggest factor in not sharing photos wirelessly, NPD said. About six out of 10 of the survey respondents said they weren't entirely sure about the price for sending photos, which means they were less likely to do it."

Your Cellphone's Inner Spielberg

Mobile phones with video-recording capabilities have come of age, but but how many people make movies with their mobiles? The WSJ says not many so far but gives some interesting stats on the US cell phone market.

-- Mobile-phone sales in the U.S. are projected to reach $16 billion this year, up from $13.5 billion in 2005, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

-- Verizon Wireless customers sent 7.4 billion text messages during fourth quarter 2005

-- The percentage of cellphones that can record video is climbing: making up about 30% of those shipped world-wide in 2005.

Mobile extras may not attract US consumers-survey

Telecommunications executives are banking on big revenue increases during the next few years from new mobile phone services, but getting customers to pay more may not be so easy, according to a report released on Monday, reports Reuters.

"More than a third of North American consumers surveyed said they would not pay a premium for music and video downloads, according to the report by audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP.

Further underscoring that point was that 20 percent of mobile device users said they would pay no more than 10 percent above their current bill."

Never say never is what I say, I really hate these downer reports.

Mobile TV is not a turn-on, BT trial finds

Mobile phone users are more interested in listening to digital radio through their handsets than watching mobile television services, according to research unveiled yesterday, reports The Guardian, and are only willing to pay about £5 a month for the privilege of catching up with their favourite shows on a phone's small screen.

"The first major British trial of real broadcast mobile television was carried out by BT and Virgin Mobile among 1,000 users.

The results showed that while 59% rated mobile television as appealing or very appealing by the end of a six-month test, 65% said the same about digital radio.

In terms of actual viewing and listening time, users watched an average of 66 minutes of television a week on their phone but listened to 95 minutes of radio."

Over A Third Of UK Mobile Users Send MMS

A new UK survey shows a dramatic increase in the use of picture messaging with WAP also growing in popularity. Digital-Lifestyle.info reports.

"The results of a survey conducted by mobile media company Enpocket and Harris Interactive for Q4 2005 show that 36% of mobile owners now use their phones to send and receive picture messages, up from 21% at the same period last year."

Worldwide Camera Phone Sales Reach 300 Million In 05

Gartner on Thursday announced that worldwide sales of camera phones will reach 295.5 million in 2005. This represents 38 of total worldwide mobile phone sales, up from 14% in 2004. [via Cellular News]

80% of Korean Handset Users Disapprove of MP3 and Camera Function

About 80% of mobile phone users are not happy with the MP3 player and especially camera functions built on their handsets.

According to a survey conducted in Korea about consumer satisfaction with MP3 player and camera on handsets, 80% or 755 out of 941 respondents said that they were unsatisfied with both MP3 player and camera, 11% said that they only liked MP3 player. 5% respondents were satisfied only with camera and 4% replied that they liked both of them.

However, the respondents agreed that mobile phone would encroach on part of the turf of MP3 player or digital camera market.

By TelecomsKorea.

Snap happy

According to Analyst Tony Henning, managing editor of the Future Image Mobile Imaging Report, "We estimate more than 300 million camera-phones will be sold during 2005, compared to about 85 million digital cameras," Henning says. "Nine out of 10 digital images taken by consumers [this year] will be captured with camera phones." [via The Sydney Morning Herald.]

Nokia is No. 1 in market for camera phone

Nokia kept its lead in the global camera-phone market last year as shipments of the devices tripled, according to a study made public Thursday, reports the IHT.

"Nokia, had 17.8 percent of the 2004 camera-phone market, up from 13.1 percent in 2003, according to Strategy Analytics. Motorola increased its share to 16.7

About 257 million camera phones were sold last year, outselling digital still cameras by more than four to one, the researcher said.

More than 350 million camera phones will be sold this year, fueled by demand for new models and improved picture quality, the researcher predicted."

10 million music videos downloaded on mobiles

Mobile network 3 has announced that more than 10 million music videos have been watched by its customers on their mobiles since the launch of its video jukebox service six months ago, reports Netimperative.

"The firm has also entered into a new agreement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment UK.

Three said the new deal will now double the list of artists whose music videos are available for fans to download or stream onto their video mobiles".

20% of U.S. Internet Users Now Own a Camera Phone

A recent InfoTrends/CAP Ventures study reveals that nearly 20% of U.S. Internet users owned a mobile phone with an embedded digital camera at the end of 2004, compared to just 3% in 2003, reports Photography Blog.

"In addition, 27% of consumers who do not currently own a camera phone are highly interested in purchasing one as their next mobile phone. Two out of three current camera phone owners use the camera function on a regular basis to take pictures."

Women use camera phones more than men

Cell phone content company Enpocket studies consumers' use of data services for mobile phones, including sharing of camera phone photos and the downloading of games and ring tones, reports Sign On San Diego.

The company found that women use camera phones more than men, with 17 percent of women reporting they snapped pictures with their phones, compared with 11 percent of men.