JENKINTOWN, Pa.-High-tech wireless applications like mobile video and contactless payments are less appealing than text-based localized services, according to a study from TNS Telecoms released Wednesday.
The market research firm’s latest quarterly survey indicates 20 percent of households were interested in mobile services that provide local weather and traffic alerts though text messaging. Only 13 percent of households were interested in using their phones to make purchases from vending machines or pay public transportation fares, however, and only 7 percent said they wanted to watch short video clips on their handsets.
“Localized wireless services such as weather, traffic, driving directions and restaurant reservations all seem to present an untapped market for wireless service providers,” said Charles White, vice president of TNS Telecoms. “Although 20 percent of consumers report interest in services like local weather and traffic updates, only 2 percent report having used such a service. The research also shows that customers interested in these features are already among the highest-value customers.”
TNS collects responses for the quarterly poll though its database of 32,000 U.S. households that provide their complete set of telecommunications bills and marketing materials each year.
