The report is wide-ranging in its scope and evaluates the breadth of content available on mobile platforms, including segments such as mobile TV, mobile gambling, mobile games, mobile UGC (User-generated content), mobile adult, mobile music and infotainment.
A related press release issued January 23 by Juniper projects a threefold increase in mobile entertainment revenue "from just over $20 billion in 2007 to more than $64 billion by 2012."
Dr Windsor Holden, the author of the report, said that consumer usage in the overall mobile market is definitely changing, and that new growth areas and opportunities are now in play.
"With revenues from voice services declining and messaging revenues flatlining, last year finally saw a number of more sophisticated entertainment services begin to fulfill their potential and redress the balance," Holden said.
The report asserts that the music, games and mobile TV sectors will account for most of the projected growth, but that other sectors, including adult, will also contribute.
However, Juniper also cautions that in some mobile areas — such as gambling, adult content and some social networking services — national and international legislation could either adversely impact on growth, or in some cases prevent any service deployment.
Other findings from the Juniper report include:
- Regulations and prohibitions will limit opportunities in the adult and gambling sectors, although Juniper Research envisages that restrictions on gambling services in the key US market will ease in the medium term;
- China and the Far East will remain the largest regional market for mobile entertainment throughout the period covered by the report, with revenues rising from $8.5bn in 2007 to nearly $21.3bn by 2012;
- Entertainment service adoption remains constrained by difficulties with the user interface, network speed and coverage and the excessive cost of data services.