Mobile advertising industry’s growth rate - Real or hype?

When a leading research firm like Gartner says that mobile advertising industry it going to be huge, we all take notice; don’t we? Especially, when it says the industry is going to rake in over $11 billion in revenues by 2011, it’s bound to make news. Which is exactly what has happened.

Brian White in his analysis has questioned the logic behind the prediction of Gartner and has asked a few questions which are thought-provoking. First of all, no one can deny that mobile advertising and marketing has become one of the most noted industries today and has a big future. As of now, the industry is worth well over $1 billion. But the question that is raised in the article is that on what basis the research firm has predicted that the revenue will increase tenfold in just about four years. Good question; I should say. Also, he has raised a point about mobile browsing being a complex experience for everyone but people who use smartphones like Blackberry, iPhone, and the like. So, he finally finishes by saying that while mobile advertising will reach those numbers, it will not happen that soon.

Well; I don’t know on what basis Gartner predicted those numbers and I’m certainly not strong in math; so let me not go there. Speaking of the complexities in mobile browsing, I do have a point to make. While I accept that mobile browsing could be a little difficult for people with low-end mobile phones, it’s a breeze for someone who uses Apple iPhone, Smartphone, Blackberry, and the like. So, let’s take that elite league out of the equation. Coming to the average Joe who uses low end phone, I have two points to make.

First of all, a lot of carriers are working on making mobile browsing simpler for their users with MySpace Mobile and Fox Mobile being the best examples. Sprint has partnered with both MySpace and Fox to make mobile browsing simpler than ever for its customers. You can simply check out the mobile sites of MySpace and Fox with just a click. That’s right – you don’t have to access the menu, open the browser, type the URL, and wait for the site to open. You can simply access the site with just a click. How about that for a simple mobile browsing experience? If this clicks big time with the customers, I don’t see any reason why other carriers would not want to go the same way.

Second of all, you gotta remember one thing – SMS or text messaging is said to be the most preferred form of advertising among all. It doesn’t require an iPhone to receive text messages; right? I, for one, get text messages from my carrier all the time. Most of them are ads carrying information about their latest tariff plans, latest schemes, offers, and so on. While I do have the freedom to opt out of their messaging list, I don’t want to. Simply because, I might find something useful in those messages and make use of it. After all, I don’t get charged for incoming messages and I’m given a toll free number which I can call in case I need to respond to any of those ads. So, I get about a couple of messages everyday and I take whatever I want and delete the rest – as simple as that. If you’re provided with the same option, I’m sure many of you would think twice before saying no to the advertisers.

So, I believe mobile advertising industry would grow at the rate which the experts think it would grow at. What say you?

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising.

4 comments.

MySpace Mobile just a click away for Sprint customers

If you are a Sprint user, you can’t afford to miss this news flash.

First announcement

MySpace has partnered with Sprint to make its MySpace Mobile website just a click away for Sprint customers. Starting from 2008, you don’t have to type the URL of MySpace Mobile website into your mobile phone’s browser to access it. It will be just a click away and you’ll be able to access it from the Sprint portal.

I really think this is a good step on MySpace’s part. Personally, typing a URL into the mobile phone’s browser is a Herculean task for me and I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way. So, a mobile website, that too of MySpace, which is just a click away is always good news. This can also increase the number of visitors tremendously as far as the website is concerned, as it’s already very popular with mobile phone users. Ever since its release in September, the MySpace Mobile website http://mobile.myspace.com has attracted over a million unique visitors, which is very good by any standards. Also, the new version is supposed to be better and bigger than the old one with rich graphics, images, new and upgraded email interface, and many other options which the old version lacked.

Now, the second announcement.

As a Sprint customer, you’ll not just be able to access the new version of MySpace Mobile, but also a host of websites including FOXSports.com, Askmen.com, and many more from Fox Interactive Media. If you’re a long time Sprint user, this news should not surprise you as Sprint has been bringing in all the latest stuff from the FOX network including sports scores, weather updates, traffic data, and many other things. Now, all these websites will be just a click away from you, starting from 2008.

To be able to access websites with just a click is something everyone loves. It saves a helluva time and makes mobile surfing easier than ever. As the market experts keep insisting, the success of mobile phone advertising and marketing depends on how the “powers that be” make mobile browsing easier for the customers. If that’s the case, then I should say Sprint has moved in the right direction.

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, Mobile Web.

1 comment.