Why Mobile Content?
Germany currently has 61 Mio users of cellular phone networks. Worldwide altogether 1,3 billion people use cellular phones. These are more users than fixed networks ever had. For 2008 it is estimated that the 2 billion barrier will be broken through, with a highly flourishing zone in Asia. Market researcher Frost & Sullivan have estimated in their recent study that the revenue in Europe for mobiles games up until 2006 will be 6,3 billion Euro. In comparison: in 2002 this market in Europe was just 720 Mio Euro.
Altogether this shows that there is much demand for mobile applications, mobile services and mobile content. For the European Commission the challenge is twofold:
• to foster the cooperation of content provider, carrier and retailer in such a way that it is most beneficial for users in terms of transparent pricing models, high quality of content and individually and fairly bundled services. For Europe the challenge is furthermore to create some common guidelines for all countries
• to develop scenarios which improve people’s life, regardless of social background, age, gender or education. This is all the more important since the target group of mobile devices is nearly exclusively teenagers. For a modern Europe, there is no room for social exclusion; the medium needs to be opened up to the entire society.
