unsurprisingly, more mobile customers have expressed an interest in using local weather and traffic condition mobile services than in watching video clips of sports or television shows, according to the most recent quarterly survey from TNS Telecoms.
“Localized wireless services such as weather, traffic, driving directions and restaurant reservations all seem to present an untapped market for wireless service providers,” stated Charles White, Vice President of TNS Telecoms. “Although 20 percent of consumers report interest in services like local weather and traffic updates, only 2% report having used such a service. The research also shows that customers interested in these features are already among the highest value wireless customers.” I think that most telcos offer these ‘local’ services, so the problem is with marketing and education rather than with the content offered.
Percentage of households surveyed which displayed interest in different services:
- Receive local weather and/or traffic alerts through text messaging — 20%
- Download ringtones — 18%
- Ringback service — 16%
- Use a wireless phone to make dinner or hotel reservations — 16%
- Access the latest news, weather, sports, etc/ from newspapers or other publications — 13%
- Make small purchases such as using vending machines or public transportation, by entering a code on a wireless phone — 13%
- View regular television shows over a wireless phone — 10%
- View short clips or highlights of TV shows, newly released movie previews or sporting events on a wireless phone — 7%
- View sports programs, such as ESPN, over a wireless phone — 6%
The fact that 16% of respondents expressed an interest in ringback tones is interesting, especially considering that it is almost as high as the 18% that want to download ringtones. There has been some skepticism that ringback tones would take off in the US, but it seems there is a demand for them.
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Yahoo Expanding Its Mobile Search
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