KEY POINTS:
Social networking is set to top the mobile phone content market researchers say.
Revenue from social networking, dating and personal content delivery services will increase from $778 million this year to a staggering $7.8 billion by 2012, according to a report from Juniper Research.
"Even though social networking sites are in their infancy, the exponential growth experienced by a number of mobile service providers, in some cases achieved primarily through viral marketing, would seem to affirm that there is huge potential in this area," says report author Windsor Holden.
He also said that the highest levels of growth might be in areas with limited broadband access.
"In these markets, the mobile phone is becoming the predominant means by which people access the internet. Hence, the overwhelming majority of online social networking will be conducted via the handset rather than the PC."
Holden's report also noted that users of mobile social networking sites will rise from a current 14 million to nearly half a billion by 2012.
Mobile dating and chatroom services, which currently account for 57 per cent of user-generated revenues, although this proportion will fall to 21 percent by 2012 as alternative user-generated content services gain popularity.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
