A new customer survey shows that the wireless data industry may have turned the corner, a change that seems to be due to the advent of camera phones.
The number of people using their phones to access Internet information increased for the first time since June 2001, according to the latest wireless Internet survey from global management consulting firm A. T. Kearney and the Judge Institute of Management at Cambridge University’s business school. The survey found more than one-third of users said they have accessed the Internet on their mobile phones at least once in the last month, a 25-percent increase since the last study in June 2002.
“The prospects for mobile data services seem to have turned the corner through a combination of greater phone capabilities, improved user experience and consumer comfort/confidence in using advanced phone features,’ said L. C. Mitchell, A.T. Kernel’s vice president and communications industry practice leader for the Americas. “The study points to clear revenue potential for next-generation phone services. The challenge for mobile operators will be in structuring service offerings and pricing plans that respond to the unique needs of individual customer segments and implementing internal processes to exploit these opportunities.”
The study found much of the excitement over wireless data services stems from newly introduced camera phones. According to the survey, more than 80 percent of mobile-phone users in the study were aware of the photo messaging capabilities of current mobile phones, and two-thirds said they are willing to pay to use those services. Respondents said they would pay between $1 and $2 to send photos messages.
The survey, which has been regularly conducted since 2000, included about 5,600 interviews across Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom.
