This month’s top trends in digital: App-based texts on the rise | Coupon usage soars- even among the wealthy | iPad 2 | Smartphones with NFC | Public security online | Mobile sites | Broadband quality | Company phone bills | Domain Sales | Augmented reality and terrorism
App Generated Mobile Texts to exceed $70 billion Revenues by 2016, overtaking Person-to-Person Messaging
A new report published 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
http://www.juniperresearch.com
Coupon usage soars- even among the wealthy
New independent market research commissioned by the UK’s leading coupon and voucher services provider, Valassis , has found that promotional offers are having an even greater impact than previously thought on the everyday buying habits of post-recession shoppers, as consumers across all social classes and age groups continue to seek out ways to make the domestic budget go further.
According to the research, 61% of consumers use coupons (up from 52% in the Valassis June 2010 survey).
• 24% stated they use coupons very frequently.
• Furthermore, 16% of consumers stated they are using more coupons than they were a year before (14% in June 2010).
• 37% of consumers are looking out for promotional offers more than they were a year ago (28% in June 2010).
• The price of food (27%) and the cost of living (23%) were cited as the main reasons for this increased interest.
The Valassis research reveals a couple of myth busters about the profile of a typical coupon user.
• Whilst coupons have been perceived traditionally as the preserve of lower social groups and the unemployed, the research highlights that coupons are far from beneath AB shoppers:
− AB shoppers use coupons as much as other demographic groups – 61% reporting coupon use.
− 33% of AB shoppers are looking out for promotional offers more than a year ago.
• Interestingly and perhaps counter-intuitively, 40% of those in full-time employment are on the hunt more for offers than they were a year ago, whilst only 34% of those not working are doing the same.
The research threw up a couple of interesting differences between different age groups:
• Coupon usage is highest among 35 – 44 year olds with 67% using coupons up from 57% in 2010.
• Seeking out promotions as an activity is highest among 25 – 34 year olds, with 47% looking out for promotional offers more than they were a year ago (33% in June 2010).
• The research showed a very significant shift in promotional behaviour among older age groups:
− The increase in coupon usage was also found among 55 – 64 year olds (64%) although the increase was more pronounced, up from 52% in 2010.
− 29% of the 65+ age group stated they were looking out more for promotional offers than a year ago (16% in June 2010).
− Whether these trends are a function of belt-tightening from low fixed-income returns or becoming more offer-savvy through the Internet marketers should take this as a clear signal to adapt their promotional messages to appeal to older consumers.
The survey also reveals that coupon and voucher downloads from the Internet continue to grow in popularity.
• 22% said that within the last 12 months they had used a voucher or coupon found on the Internet (20% in June 2010)
• 7% reported using a digital coupon or voucher from a mobile phone in the last 12 months (2% in June 2010).
• Of those respondents that had downloaded an Internet or mobile coupon, 41% had used their coupon at a restaurant or fast food outlet, whilst 38% had used such a coupon in a supermarket. The rise in coupons or vouchers being used in restaurants corresponds to the growth and prominence of voucher websites over the last three years.
Commenting on the research findings, Charles D’Oyly, managing director of Valassis UK, says, “Economic conditions remain tough and as a result consumers across all social and age groups are embracing promotional offers more and more. With the cost of living and the price of food continuing to rise shoppers are looking for best value on the high street, and they are now far more likely to buy products that are on promotion, to re-evaluate their historical purchasing habits and to shop at multiple locations in order to get the best deal.”
D’Oyly continues, “This research destroys the myth that coupons are solely the domain of the less well off. In the current economic climate, even wealthier shoppers are seeking ways to make the domestic budget go further.”
http://www.valassis.com.
iPad2 launch triggers flurry of Apple and iPad related press releases
Press releases prominently mentioning Apple and/or iPad were among the biggest risers in the PRFilter Technology PR Rankings for March 2011 mainly due to stories that were related to, or written to tie in with, the launch of the iPad2. The Rankings compiled by RealWire analyse the technology brands, topics and products that are mentioned the most in the tens of thousands of press releases from multiple aggregated sources that PRFilter indexes each month.
March 2011 Highlights
• Microsoft and Facebook still occupy the top two positions in the brands table with similar activity levels to February 2011.
• Releases mentioning “cloud” technologies and “websites” still the most popular with increases in activity levels in both cases.
• Significant increase in releases mentioning Apple (48 per cent increase) mainly due to iPad2 tie in releases which also resulted in iPad rising to 5th in the topics table with 92 per cent more activity.
• Google highest riser (up six positions to 5th) in the Top 10 with 50 per cent more mentions in March 2011 compared to February 2011, bringing mentions back in line with January 2011 levels.
• Nintendo (17th) and Nintendo DS (45th) new entries in the brands and topics tables respectively due to tie in releases relating to launch of 3DS.
• Other notable increases in topic mentions for “broadband” (+30 per cent), “satellite” (+35 per cent) and new entry “ebooks” (+105 per cent)
A presentation of the full details of the Top 25 technology brands and the Top 50 technology topics/products can be found here.
http://www.slideshare.net/realwire/prfilter-tech-pr-rankings-march-2011
1 in 5 Smartphones will have NFC by 2014
New market forecasts from Juniper Research show rapid adoption of NFC services over the next 3 years, with at least 1 in 5 smartphones worldwide having NFC contactless functionality. Worldwide, Juniper forecasts almost 300 million NFC capable smartphones by 2014. Juniper’s analysis shows that this growth will be driven in the short term by mobile network operators launching services in 20 early adopting countries before the end of 2012. With more and more handset vendors integrating NFC chipsets, the new Juniper Research report forecasts that NFC payments and retail marketing capability via coupons and smart posters will become common amongst smartphone users in Western Europe, North America and other developed regions.
NFC Retail Marketing & Mobile Payments Report author Howard Wilcox gave more details behind the report’s conclusions: “Juniper’s market analysis highlighted that, although there are still hurdles ahead, NFC prospects have been boosted by the succession of mobile operator and device vendor announcements. France is a case in point where operators expect to sell one million NFC devices this year.”
NFC is attracting the attention of all the major players such as Google, France Telecom Orange and Telefonica who see mobile commerce capability as vital. Juniper’s report pinpoints the main revenue opportunities but warns that business model structures still require development before NFC services will achieve critical mass.
Juniper’s new report contains comprehensive six year forecasts for all the key market parameters including users, transactions and values for both NFC ticketing and retail payments. It also breaks out the opportunities for value added retail marketing services through coupons and smart posters. Additionally the report pinpoints the drivers and constraints impacting the market, and tracks the status of 14 vendors addressing the market.
Further findings include:
• North America will account for half of all NFC smartphones in 2014, followed by Western Europe.
• With many entities such as banks, mobile operators, transport companies and merchants involved, service complexity is a challenge in each NFC rollout.
www.juniperresearch.com
UK public security worries reach four-year peakThe Unisys Security Index reveals that UK public insecurity is at its peak since the study started measuring consumer security concerns in 2007. The country’s national, financial, internet and personal security concerns have all reached new heights, indicating that the changing financial, political and defence landscapes have taken their toll. The Unisys Security Index tracks consumer security concerns every six months and yields valuable insights into the security issues that matter to people today. Based on new research conducted in February 2011, UK consumer security concern has jumped 42 points in just six months to an index score of 154, representing a serious level of concern. The Unisys Security Index is measured on a scale of 0 to 300.
Major gatherings vulnerable to attack:
Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of the UK public believe that large gatherings at sporting events and other locations, such as the Olympics 2012, are targets for malicious attack.
Fear of fraud/ID theft
According to CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, over 102,500 cases of bank card fraud were identified in 2010, with many more cases not being reported. This is reflected in the Security Index findings, with 93 percent of UK respondents concerned about bank card fraud and 91 percent concerned about identity theft.
Aviation fears
Following a number of aviation security threats in 2010, 74 percent of UK respondents to the Unisys survey believe that airports and aeroplanes are vulnerable to a malicious or terrorist attack. Meanwhile, 62 percent of people surveyed in the UK expressed concern that cargo, transported by air, land or sea could be targeted.
Financial fears
Nearly three quarters of respondents are nervous about meeting their financial obligations. The number of people seriously concerned has doubled in six month to 46 percent from 22 percent.
Other findings from the report
The Unisys Security Index also revealed that the UK public has conflicting feelings about WikiLeaks and the right to reveal secret information.
• Nearly three-quarters of UK citizens surveyed (71 percent) believe that online whistle-blowing sites like WikiLeaks should not be allowed to exist. However, nearly half of respondents (49 percent) also believe posting secret information online exercises our freedom of speech.
• 61 percent believe that publishing classified information online should be considered an act of treason.
• 16 percent of Brits would consider sharing sensitive information online.
www.unisyssecurityindex.com.
Corporate and Mobile sites ‘still falling short of consumer expectations’
CoreMedia, a Web content management (WCM) company, has announced the results of an international consumer survey on online user experience satisfaction. The independent study, which surveyed over 1,100 English and German-speaking Internet users, provides insight into consumer satisfaction with their digital experience across several key areas, including website personalisation and mobile website usage. The survey gauges whether companies are delivering customised, engaging online experiences that take into account user context such as gender, location, time of day/year, weather, social media “likes” and updates. A recent Gartner report stated that “Context-aware computing – the concept of leveraging information about the end user to improve the quality of the interaction – can improve business results.”1 The CoreMedia survey, however, found that companies are failing to meet expectations for the majority of consumers, with more than half of the survey participants (56 percent) indicating that they do not feel as though website content is tailored to their personal needs or preferences.
Gartner offers an explanation behind this disconnect, reporting “Despite some of the benefits, there is a perception in the market that the level of understanding required to deliver an appropriate user experience across multiple channels of interaction remains elusively difficult or prohibitively expensive to achieve.”2 Although Web Content Management vendors have created compelling technologies that allow companies and organisations to build their online Web presence, these platforms often require specialised IT staff to address the targeting of content to specific audiences or devices. Seldom is this in fact done, often due to the competing goals of IT and the business; however this role is best left to the marketer or business user, who best understands both the business and engagement drivers behind the user experience, and their audience’s context and needs.
When asked to identify their preferences for their online experiences, the majority of respondents (69 percent) chose the ability to quickly find what they are searching for as the top priority. Almost a quarter of the respondents selected websites that could easily adapt to their current needs, and 14 percent of survey respondents identified being able to comment, recommendation or retweet as taking precedence. The message is clear: consumers want engaging, interactive experiences, but above all, the interaction must quickly meet their desired outcome.
The survey also explored mobile Web sentiment. With smartphone adoption accelerating in both the U.S. and Europe (27 percent and 31 percent of mobile subscribers, respectively, in 2010 3), analysts are recommending companies focus on creating a seamless experience in terms of how they engage with their customers across all channels. Despite the increasing trends in mobile usage and the understanding of the different intentions associated with mobile devices, it appears companies still have a bit more work to do on delivering an engaging user experience across all channels. Over a third (36 percent) felt most sites are often difficult to read on a mobile device, and 40 percent said they do not regularly access mobile sites because it is too complicated. Another interesting finding relates to expectations regarding mobile when compared to traditional desktop browsing; 24 percent felt that most mobile sites are missing the functionality that one finds on websites when accessed via a PC. This supports the theory that rather than the more immersive Web experience one expects when using a desktop, people use mobile devices for specific goals – quick searches, social media updates or transactions, etc.
www.coremedia.com
78% of broadband users feel service has not improved
In a survey of over 1,200 broadband users, over three quarters stated their broadband experience had either remained the same or deteriorated in the past year. Only 21 per cent believed their broadband service had improved. The survey conducted by thinkbroadband.com also asked users to specify their biggest broadband gripe, with broadband speeds dominating the list of problems. 24 per cent of users complained they did not receive the promised speeds, 23 per cent of users stated they couldn’t get access to a fast broadband service and 17 per cent saw peak time broadband congestion as their primary bugbear. Only 8 per cent believed fair usage policies or limits were a source of concern, 7 per cent had issues getting technical problems fixed and 5 per cent believed broadband was too expensive.
www.thinkbroadband.com
Data hungry mobiles lead to rocketing company phone bills
Research undertaken by Efftel, the independent telecom cost management specialists, has revealed the serious cost implications for companies that provide their staff with iPhones and other ‘smartphones’. Efftel analysed usage among 1800 UK corporate users, of which 1430 were on Blackberry and 370 on iPhone or other data-driven mobile devices. The average data use over a month of each Blackberry user was 15 Mb, while for the iPhone (and the like) it was 96 Mb. The average data ‘call’ was only 0.38 Mb for Blackberries against 5.5 Mb for iPhones. The lower Blackberry usage is because they are more efficient in the way they compress and transfer data, and partly because the iPhone makes it easier to use data ‘apps’ and other forms of data transfer.
http://www.efftel.co.uk.
Strong and Steady Growth in Internet Domain Sales
Sedo, an online domain marketplace and monetisation provider, today announced the results of its Q1 2011 Domain Market Study, which reveals domain industry trends based on transactions in its marketplace. During the three months ending 31st March 2011, 10,608 domains changed hands on Sedo’s marketplace, accounting for £13 million in sales. Average sales prices across all Top Level Domains (TLDs) remained strong in comparison to previous quarters and for the first time, the .co extension entered the leading sales list with 2 percent market share, showing its growing popularity as a unique alternative to .com. Overall sales numbers remained consistent and stable with a predictable decline in some figures from the previous quarter due to the record-breaking $13million sale of Sex.com during Q4 2010. The median sales price for a .co.uk TLD has increased by 34 per cent year on year from £335 in the same quarter of last year, to £450. This has been buoyed by sales of domain names including autoblog.co.uk and liposuction.co.uk. The report also highlights the availability and affordability of multi-word keyword domain names in the UK, with spray-tanning.co.uk and which-mortgage.co.uk selling for under £500.
The quarter also saw a shake-up in the most active TLD list, with the .co extension making its debut. Notable sales such as music.co for $30,000 demonstrate the appreciating value and growing popularity of .co domains, as well as the significant opportunities they provide to entrepreneurs and businesses looking to extend their brand online.
Highlights of Sedo’s Q1 2011 study include:
• The .com extension continues to be the most popular TLD, accounting for 51% of all Q1 TLD sales. The .net extension comes in a distant 2nd with 7% of the market share.
• Further demonstrating its strength as an investment, the .com extension continues to exhibit steady growth with the average sales price climbing 9 per cent from Q1 2010.
• The .de extension remains the most commonly sold ccTLD domain extension. At 18%, the .de is the second most commonly traded TLD in the Sedo marketplace, beating out gTLDs like .net (7%), .co.uk (6%), .eu (5%) and .org (4%).
• Transaction volume shows a quarter over quarter increase in domains sold
• Sales growth for the quarter met expectations and remained relatively consistent with historical trends, with the exception of record-breaking figures in Q4 2010 due to several high prices sales like sex.com and Poker.org.
• Offer/counter-offer transactions continued to be the most popular sales type, accounting for 43 per cent of all transactions, while fixed-price sales accounted for 28 per cent, and auctions accounted for 15 per cent, which is an increase from Q4 2010.
• Top UK sales include autoblog.co.uk (£10,945), liposuction.co.uk (£9,160) and travelmoneycard.co.uk (£8,000).
www.sedo.co.uk
Juniper Research Points to Counter Terrorism as Key Growth Opportunity for Mobile Augmented RealityA new report from Juniper Research has found that the market for mobile enterprise applications featuring augmented reality (AR) elements is expected to exceed $300 million by 2015 with wide-ranging deployments across areas as diverse as corporate utility, surgery and counter-terrorism. Mobile AR – which provides digital information superimposed upon the physical world as seen through the viewfinder of a smartphone camera – is enabled by location-sensing technologies such as GPS, an accelerometer and a digital compass. The Juniper report observed that while technological limitations had previously constrained deployments, the inclusion of image recognition/computer vision is bringing a far higher degree of accuracy to AR and also reducing the problems that occur when GPS reception is weak. There have been trials in this field from key players such as SAP, which has developed a prototype app allowing enterprises to browse geolocalised information. Meanwhile, there is growing interest in the use of AR technologies in field medicine (where medics can use the device to see digital information relating to a geotagged patient’s history or to provide assistance with surgical procedures).
www.juniperresearch.com