Messaging Asia, which began at the Raffles Convention Centre in Singapore Wednesday, is attended by senior business managers, analysts, marketers and technologists from major international network operators, vendors and manufacturers globally. During the show, LogicaCMG asked delegates for their thoughts on the future of mobile messaging over the next five years.
Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of those questioned said they believed that interoperability with Internet instant messaging domains, such as Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, GoogleTalk and AOL Instant Messenger was the most important factor for the success of mobile IM. In addition, a further 35 per cent believe that interoperability with existing SMS and MMS services will be crucial. Delegates stressed that this integration needs to go beyond the user experience and even include revenue share of the services offered.
When asked about new revenue sources for operators, 45 per cent of all respondents believed that service plans that include discounted messaging services in return for advertising would only produce minimal profit for the operator, with a further 20 per cent saying they saw no benefit at all.
Boudewijn Pesch, managing director, LogicaCMG telecoms Asia, commented on the results: "This research has shown that a strong incentive exists for network operators to collaborate closely with one another, as well as with leading Internet players as they look to establish themselves in the mobile space. Ultimately the success of future mobile messaging strategies will be determined by the end-user, and if mutual relationships between operators and Internet players can lead to an increasingly seamless service then everyone will benefit."
