The mobile content market covers many forms of media such as music, text, pictures, videos, etc. These media forms can be accessed using a mobile device which can be a smartphone or tablet handheld device. Devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Android devices have transformed the way consumer access content.
Mobile Content Market Drivers and Opportunities
The demand for mobile content is growing rapidly. Various factors attribute to the growth of this market.
Market Drivers
Rapidly increasing disposable incomes, innovative products and technologies, and mobile devices with advanced features tend to boost the growth of this market. Decreasing prices with the competitor’s product with increasing mobile bandwidth and speed has also supported the growth of the mobile phone content industry.
A market intelligence firm has stated that the global and the U.S. mobile phone content market was worth $6.5 billion in 2011. It is anticipated to reach a total value of $18.6 billion in 2017, with a CAGR of 19% during the forecast period of 2011 to 2017.
Market Opportunities
On the other hand, factors such as decreasing market share of U.S. sales of ringtones along with distribution and marketing challenges hamper the growth of this market. However, the industry has many opportunities which will increase the revenue shares of the market.
Joint ventures between publishers and marketers and the role of devices and network in the mobile content industry will provide further opportunities for key players in this market. In addition, trends such as growth of social networking and availability of multiple options for substitute products in mobile content industry will support the growth of the market. Key players also have untapped opportunities in the sector of free and fee-based mobile phone content services.
Segmentation of the Mobile Content Industry
The global market for this report is segmented in two major parts which are the revenue-generated and user-type. These two segments are further divided into mobile games, mobile music, and mobile video.
Dominant Mobile Games Sector
The same market intelligence company has stated that the mobile games sector is expected to be the largest segment in the industry and reach a value of $11.4 billion by the end of 2017. Mobile games sector was the largest market sector in 2011 with a revenue share of 53.3%. It is predicted that this segment will further solidify its position in the overall market with a 61.7% market share by the end of 2017. The mobile games market worldwide was worth $3.5 billion in 2011 and will amount to $11.4 billion in 2017 with a 21.9% CAGR during the forecast period.
U.S., the Dominant Regional Sector
According to geography, the global mobile device market is segmented into U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The U.S. market for mobile content stood out as the largest regional market with an impressive revenue share of 30.3% in 2011. Faster adoption of mobile content in U.S. will considerably increase the market share to 41% by the end of 2017.
Mobile Content Marketing Trends
It is predicted by market analysts, that in the coming few years the mobile market’s revenue will double than the current figures within a year.
Consumer Trends
Consumers while buying mobile device content tend to compare content features, smart devices, and innovative technologies in the market. This factor tends to impact the mobile content industry greatly. The demand for mobile content will continue to grow in future as more mobile devices arrive every month on the market.
Mobile Optimized Sites Vs. Apps
In addition, the competition is growing between mobile optimized sites versus mobile-native content. This trend is one of the biggest struggles for mobile content provides whether to invest in mobile optimized sites or to invest in mobile-native content like apps.
According to Forbes, one of the key components to monetizing the mobile content is by selling apps. However, selling apps for two dollars a piece is not the only way to make apps profitable. Selling ads is one of the way companies can make profit.