Through 2014, ABI Research says

Jun 23, 2009 11:01 GMT  ·  By

According to a new study made by ABI Research, mobile services revenues are expected to grow at nearly 1.2 percent throughout 2014, even if the world is affected by the economic slowdown. Before the crisis, the forecasts placed the growth only 0.5 percent higher, and it seems that, although unemployment has risen a lot compared to a year ago, mobile services will not be affected as much.

“A long economic recovery places pressures on mobile operators to compete on price, particularly with undifferentiated voice services. Mobile data services allow operators to counter that pressure. However each region is different. Operators should create strategies that lead customers to maintain 'nice-to-have' data services or encourage addition of more utilitarian ones,” stated Dan Shey, practice director, ABI Research.

Consumers all around the world have been rethinking their purchase options and possibilities, and the move affected all industries, including the mobile services one, which is usually untouched by crisis periods. North America is reported to have registered the greatest hit from the economic turmoil. Even so, the report shows that the mobile data services growth is expected to top 8 percent through 2014 even in the worst recovery scenario. At the same time, it will also be able to help mobile services revenues at times when the voice pricing sees a lot of pressure.

In the Asia Pacific region, stimulus packages are proving to be of great help through the financial crisis, while local carriers register great data revenues from content downloads. In case the recession extends, these will be the first affected products, yet wireless operators are expected to moderate the impacts of the depressed conditions with messaging and offer management.

According to Shey, “Mobile operators need to stress the utility of mobile services and pursue appropriate services personalization initiatives that allow customers to buy and use services in ways that best suit their needs. Business customers should also be a target segment as businesses consider mobile a way to lower costs and increase competitiveness.”