While many mobile network providers grumble at the money lost by customers using free mobile messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, BlackBerry Messenger and iMessage, Informa Telecoms & Media says there is still plenty to be made from standard SMS messaging.
In fact, the business intelligence and strategic services provider predicts mobile operators will generate a total of $722.7 billion in revenue from SMS between 2011 and 2016.
“There will not be a uniform decline in mobile operators’ SMS traffic and revenues as a result of the adoption and use of over-the-top messaging services,” said Pamela Clark-Dickson, senior analyst for Mobile Content & Applications at Informa Telecoms & Media. “Factors such as the operators’ pricing strategies, and the penetration of smartphones and mobile broadband in a market will determine how quickly and to what extent substitution occurs. For example, operators offering integrated tariffs that include a balanced proportion of voice, SMS and mobile data, are continuing to see growth in their SMS traffic and less impact on their SMS revenues... Read More