Asia-Pacific Mobile Multimedia Outlook

Asia-PacificMobile Multimedia Outlook 2004 : 

Asia-PacificMobile Multimedia Outlook 2004 Michael Minges Senior Market Analyst Telecommunications Management Group, Inc. ITU TELECOM ASIA 2004 7 September 2004-Busan, Republic of Korea

Contents : 

Contents Two lead the world…can the rest catch-up? Why mobile multimedia? Mobile networks Text messaging leads the way Mobile Internet drivers High speed networks GPRS CDMA2000 1X EDGE CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 5.1.5 WCDMA Handsets Pricing Content Measuring mobile Internet take-up Mobile Internet subscribers Mobile Internet users High speed subscribers Mobile data revenue Mobile data traffic Mobile multimedia index Conclusions Covers developments in 13 key markets: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand They make up 98% of all mobile cellular subscribers in region.

Two lead, can rest catch up? : 

Two lead, can rest catch up? Japan and the Republic of Korea lead the world in mobile Internet take-up The report investigates the prospects for other economies in the region catching up Mobile Internet users as % of population, 2003

Motives for mobile multimedia : 

Motives for mobile multimedia % of households with a mobile phone, 2003 Ratio of mobile phones to other ICT devices, 2003

Text messaging leads way : 

Text messaging leads way Though not a mobile multimedia service, text messaging (SMS) is relevant because so far, it’s the “killer” non-voice application, producing the vast majority of mobile data revenues in most of the countries. The region generated some 400 billion text messages in 2003 or an average of almost 70 per subscriber per month. Use varies widely ranging from 200 per subscriber per month in Singapore and Philippines to only five in Hong Kong and Thailand. Factors driving SMS in some countries—cost of text messaging compared to voice calls, ease of input and content development—also apply to other mobile multimedia applications. SMS per subscriber per month 2003

Factors impacting mobile multimedia take-up : 

Factors impacting mobile multimedia take-up High-speed network The speed at which data can be transmitted over a mobile network impacts the type of applications available and consumer satisfaction. Handsets Though obvious, the necessity of Internet-enabled mobile phones is often overlooked when gauging mobile Internet potential. Pricing Prices must be reasonable to attract a critical mass of users. Content Useful and easy to use applications are essential to attract customers to mobile data use.

Status of high speed networks : 

Status of high speed networks High-speed mobile subscribers as % of total mobile subscribers

High-speed subscribers by technology : 

High-speed subscribers by technology Number of subscribers, June 2004 Number of networks, June 2004

Handsets : 

Handsets Appropriate handset essential for high-speed use Higher cost of Internet-enabled handsets Large used market in developing nations is barrier % of mobile subscribers with Internet-enabled handset, 2003

Pricing : 

Pricing With high-speed mobile, introduction of volume-based pricing Consumers prefer flat rate Now shifting to unlimited usage tariff in some markets In some cases, competitive with fixed broadband Mobile data pricing, 1MB data, US$, 2004

Content : 

Content i-mode around the world i-mode subscribers, December 2003

Measuring mobile multimedia : 

Measuring mobile multimedia 1% without Japan and S. Korea! Mobile Internet users as % of mobile subscribers, 2003 93% from SMS! 72% non SMS! Mobile data revenue as % of total mobile revenue, 2003

Mobile Multimedia Index : 

Mobile Multimedia Index Indicators: 1. SMS per subscriber per month; 2. Mobile data revenue as % of total mobile revenue; 3. Mobile Internet users as % of total mobile subscribers; and 4. High-speed mobile subscribers as % of total mobile subscribers

Mobile Multimedia Outlook for different economies : 

Mobile Multimedia Outlook for different economies POSITIVE Already there Japan, South Korea Ready for lift-off Singapore Possible contenders Thailand, Malaysia An outside chance India LESS POSITIVE Puzzles Taiwan, Hong Kong Fragmented markets Australia, New Zealand Too many obstacles China, Indonesia, Philippines

Statistical appendix : 

Statistical appendix Mobile cellular subscribers, Asia-Pacific region, 2003 Top 20 Asia Pacific mobile operators ranked by 2003 subscribers Population Internet users Mobile cellular subscribers Prepaid mobile subscribers High-speed mobile subscribers Outgoing mobile traffic Text messages Mobile employees Mobile revenues Mobile data revenue Mobile capital expenditure

More information : 

More information 47 pages, 23 figures, 7 tables, 3 boxes Published September 2004 (today officially) Ordering information: http://www.tmgtelecom.com/reports Questions: reports@tmgtelecom.com