Application Generated Mobile Texts to exceed $70 billion Revenues by 2016, overtaking Person-to-Person Messaging, says Juniper Research

Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS to become increasingly important for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) as revenues from one-to-one communications peak

Hampshire, UK – 4th May 2011:  A new report published today by Juniper Research forecasts that revenue from A2P SMS will exceed $70bn by 2016. Revenue from these types of messages will overtake that of P2P SMS during that year as the strategic focus for players within the mobile messaging ecosystem shifts from communication between individuals, to sending and receiving service-enabling messages.

A2P messaging – defined as those messages which are sent to or from an application – has a wide variety of use-cases. These include financial services, advertising, marketing, business administration, ticketing, television voting and any other service where information needs to be sent to, or received from a large number of users in text form.

Mobile Messaging Report author Daniel Ashdown argues: “While SMS is one of the oldest value-added services, it has an enduring appeal for a number of reasons. In terms of text communication it is unrivalled on the mobile device in its ubiquity – virtually every handset in the world can send and receive it. This makes it extremely appealing for brands who want to enable communication with their customers, as unlike other messaging mediums, they know it will reach almost its entire intended audience.”

However, revenue from P2P (Person-to-Person) SMS – commonly referred to as texting – will peak in a number of regions during the period 2010-2016 as it reaches a low point in valuation. The report finds that even in other regions where SMS has not reached the same levels of traffic, revenue growth will be moderate due to continuing competitive pricing, particularly of prepaid message buckets.

Other key findings:

•    Premium-rate SMS and MMS will decline due to challenges from other forms of billing/delivery.

•    MMS traffic and revenue will continue to grow, but A2P MMS will not have as bigger impact as A2P SMS.

•    Mobile IM will increasingly become a customer retention exercise as with fixed line services

Source: By Juniper Research on 9th Dec 2014

Citizens to be informed on road closures by SMS - Azerbaijan

The Cabinet has approved the rules.

The Cabinet has approved the "Rules of SMS-information about the temporary closure of roads and other activities in this area."

Oxu.Az reports that, according to the rules, the information about the temporary closure of roads and other activities in this area through short messages (SMS) will be implemented by the Ministry of Transport with the help of cellular (mobile) telecom operators.

Messages will be sent to users by the Intelligent Transport Management Center. The volume of a short message will be determined in line with the requirements of GSM-standard.

Services will be provided in electronic form. Information will be available through subscription services or sending SMS-request. Services will be provided for a fee. Monthly fee and the cost of one SMS will be determined in line with the agreement signed between the Ministry of Transport and cellular (mobile) telecom operators.

The proceeds will be stored on the current account of the Intelligent Transport Management Center of the Ministry of Transport.

Source: By news.Az on 9th Dec 2014

Pakistan - SMSs make electioneering more robust in country

Mobile phone operators in the country cashed the boom and enthusiasm of voters during elections 2013 campaign and generated revenues as SMS traffic went up to one billion text messages per day.

Thousands of candidates in the country made full use of the modern communication facilities and continuously tried to convince voters in their constituencies through text messages.

According to rough figures, one billion short messages (SMS) were exchanged on a daily basis in the country when the election was drawing nearer. 

“A huge rise in the usage of SMS was observed and not only the political parties used the SMS, but their supporters also exchanged a lot of SMS. Subscribers in Pakistan usually spend about a billion rupees a month on SMS,” said an official from a mobile service provider.

This increase in revenue is not only good for mobile companies but the medium used for campaigning is also very effective as there are 120 million mobile phone users in Pakistan.

Mobile phone companies also used Election 2013 as an opportunity and promoted different offers for their users. The subscribers were able to get all the information through text messages. 

Pakistan is one of the countries where per user SMS ratio is quite high. A general user generates 176 SMS per month in Pakistan. In China this number is 99 SMS per month, for India this figure is 53 per month, in USA this figure is 617 and in Brazil this figure is 22 SMS per month.

Source: By dailytimes.com.pk on 13th May 2013