SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—The market for long-form mobile video will begin to gain traction in 2008, according to new figures from In-Stat.
The market research firm said that while long-form wireless TV—video content of more than 30 minutes—is still in an experimental phase, the market will begin to demonstrate long-term potential in the next two years. More than 10 percent of all U.S. wireless users will subscribe to mobile video services by 2009, the firm predicted, although it remains unclear whether users will prefer an all-purpose multimedia phone or separate voice and multimedia devices.
While there will be no shortage of mobile TV providers coming to market in the next year, carriers and content providers are scrambling to determine what kind of content wireless users want to view on their phones. Most current video offerings consist of two- to three-minute clips such as music videos and comedy shorts.
“The greatest potential for this market rests with its ability to complement the existing video industry,” said Michael Inouye, an analyst for In-Stat. “The portable/mobile long-form video market will not likely cannibalize sales form the DVD and other traditional markets, but rather supplement top-line grown.”
