Forecast: Messaging revenues to rise despite economic slump

Despite warnings of turmoil throughout the global economy, mobile messaging growth shows no signs of slowing down according to a new forecast issued by market analysis firm ABI Research, which anticipates worldwide mobile messaging services revenues will increase from $151 billion in 2008 to more than $212 billion by 2013. ABI contends that while supply-side drivers including operators, device OEMs, content providers and middleware vendors are essential to maintaining messaging's current growth pattern, subscribers must also continue to feel there are valid practical reasons to explore messaging options and upgrade to new plans and services. The report states a growing number of customers view mobile messaging as a more efficient means of communication than voice services, adding that mobile services will remain a necessity throughout bleak economic times since displaced workers will need to be mobile to seek out work.

"Mobile messaging ARPUs are 85 percent-plus of all handset data services revenues regardless of region and will remain so for many years," said ABI Research principal analyst Dan Shey in a prepared statement. "As messaging involves all the biggest players in the mobile industry there will be incentives for all mobile messaging suppliers to work cooperatively to serve customers well and propel all parties through these rough economic waters."

For more on the ABI messaging forecast:
- read this release

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