Forecast: Half of U.S. subscribers to access mobile web by 2013

Almost 50 percent of all U.S. subscribers--roughly 150 million consumers in all--are expected to access the mobile web in 2013, up from 18 percent in 2008, according to a new forecast issued by communications consulting firm JBB Research. Citing increasing openness in mobile networks, the surging popularity of smartphones, unlimited data plans and mobile app stores as catalysts behind the mobile web's growth, JBB Research  contends the FCC's proposed net neutrality plan could also emerge as a game-changing factor, resulting in a truly open mobile Internet and inspiring new innovation in the segment.

Looking ahead, JBB Research also anticipates mobile web consumption will be driven by the introduction of more advanced and cost-friendly smartphones embedded with wide screens, touchscreen UIs, faster networks and one-touch access to mobile web services, as well as superior browsing technologies (e.g., Gecko, WebKit, Opera, etc) supporting AJAX JavaScript and Flash. The forecast anticipates that by 2013, a new generation of Google Chrome-like mobile browsers will yield more capable web-based mobile apps, further boosting mobile web usage patterns--in addition, by that time consumers should also enjoy a full mobile web experience across multiple device platforms as well as an expanded menu of business models, including subscription-based, ad-based and a la carte. The report adds that total U.S. mobile web revenue will top $23.6 billion in 2013, up from $5.5 billion in 2008--a 34.0 percent CAGR.

For more on the JBB Research forecast:
- read this release

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