Although the lines between the two webs are blurring, there still are two webs for most intents and purposes. So when I caught up with Patrick Parodi at MIP TV last week, I was interested in a stat he threw out in his role as Chairman of the MEF, as opposed to his day job, as CMO of Amobee.
Worldwide size of the mobile content market: $20 billion
Worldwide size of the internet content market: $4 billion
My first reaction, was “wow, that’s impressive”. And of course, it’s still early days for mobile content - as it is for web content for that matter. So to pronounce trends on the basis of a few scant years might be foolhardy.
Many would, however, seize this as evidence of that old industry saw that whereas people have consistently refused to pay for web based content, they’re “happy” to pay for mobile content.
I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t go so far to say the industry has peaked just yet, but I don’t think the future will be anywhere near as easy - nor as profitable as things have been in the past.
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[...] Patrick Parodi, Chairman of the MEF, has claimed some interesting figures reports MobHappy. –Worldwide size of the mobile content market: $20 billion –Worldwide size of the internet content market: $4 billion I have no idea where he got those figures and whether he is refering to all forms of content (ie, including ad-supported content) but it shows the size of the market. It’s mostly ringtones, of course… Published Wednesday, April 25, 2007 3:43 AM by mocoNews.net Filed under: 9 [...]
i think mobile services are far more useful and lucrative than mobile content, in the traditional sense of the word.
i am doubtful of watching video on the phone unless its an iPhone type of device with easy access to content that is affordable……
Like you, my reaction to the stats was, ‘Wow!’, too. Any idea of how he got to those numbers?
You’re right. Inflated prices for mobile content are just a byproduct of closed platforms. More on this at our blog: http://skydeck.com/blog/thisisbroken/content-will-be-free/
Jason
Impressive figures that look true in future looking at the fast adaption of mobile content by youngsters. More on this at blog http://telecomsector.blogspot.com/
[...] Russell Buckley reports a claim that the global market for paid content on mobile phones is already worth $20 billion, while the market for paid content on the web is worth only $4 billion. I don’t know the ultimate source, but the numbers probably aren’t far off. Does this mean that consumers are happy to pay for mobile content, or that the mobile market is somehow healthier than the market for content online? Russell is doubtful, and he’s not the only one. [...]