HORSHAM, Pa.—Two new reports researching the future market for wireless products and services draw directly opposite conclusions as to who wireless companies should target.
According to Taylor Nelson Sofres’ “Wireless and Internet Technology Adoption by Consumers Around the World,” upscale customers under the age of 25 will drive the demand for third-generation services, especially in Western Europe and the United States. The report found 45 percent of those under 25-years-old in the U.S. are interested in 3G services. Communication and information applications, followed by financial applications including m-payments, m-banking and m-trading, generated the most interest.
“Any company that wants to maximize the impact of 3G must rigorously follow a market-focussed, consumer-centric approach,” said Chandra Chaterji, senior vice president of Taylor Nelson Sofres’ global information technology practice.
However, a new report from Probe Research found the saturated youth population is shrinking and that voice and data carriers should look to other age groups as potential customers.
Allan Tumolillo, chief operating officer and author of the newly released report, found society will redirect investments to health care, pharmaceutical and other industries that cater to the older adult population, evidence that the demographic inversion will be disastrous for carriers that continue to ignore the trend.
