Griffiths on Mobile: Hello mobile email, blogging and even instant messaging

Revolution UK 19-May-06

Mobile users love it. Consumers, businesses, operators and software suppliers are all embracing it. To see the level of interest in messaging you just need to look at the slew of recent industry announcements.

In one of the biggest, at February's 3GSM, 15 major GSM operators
unveiled plans to co-operate so that users can send instant messages
across different networks. Additionally, there was a plethora of other

announcements, from text to mobile email and blogging. 2006 is looking

to be the year that choice of medium takes some big strides.

Of course, there are skeptics. When voicemail appeared, many thought it
would have limited appeal and only a third of mobile users would take it
up. Today, it's almost ubiquitous and available free on many
networks.

Similar skeptism followed text, but it was quickly put to rest; more
than 32 billion texts were sent in the UK in 2005, says the Mobile Data
Association (MDA). This versus a mere one billion six years earlier.

SMS is no longer just for consumers. Recent research from the MDA
indicates that 100 per cent of SMEs send work-related texts and 36 per
cent send over 21 per week.

Many pundits believe 2006 could be the year of mobile email. It offers
the same flexibility as text, but overcomes the 160-character
restriction.

It has historically been seen as the tool for bankers and lawyers, with
the BlackBerry leading the charge. If you look to Japan, however,
practically everyone with a handset has mobile email.

With O2's i-mode service in the UK, we are seeing similar enthusiasm
for mobile email. Meanwhile, Vodafone plans to offer it to a much wider
audience within its base. We should also start to see Hotmail over WAP
phones in 2006.

Instant messaging (IM) and blogging are also breaking into the mobile
world. This brings change. Mobile blogging allows one person on the move
to communicate their thoughts to many, instantly. But, above this, these
new developments will bring choice. The most appropriate channel will be
chosen in accordance to the content/context of a message. Text will be
the most likely choice for a quick chat between two people; IM for a
group; MMS for attachments like pictures; mobile email for more detailed
information and professional engagement; and blogging for a wider
audience.

Exciting times lie ahead.

Hugh Griffiths is head of data products at O2.
hugh.griffiths@haynet.com.