Wireless carriers are at risk of losing their dominance in...
Wireless carriers are at risk of losing their dominance in providing value-added services for emerging markets, according to research firm Ovum. The threat stems from changing consumption patterns around mobile content and apps, which may sideline operators as faster networks…
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and new channels for content and apps become available, Ovum said in a report released Wednesday. The best way for operators to avoid this fate is to leverage assets and collaborate with developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), according to Ovum. Operators are trying to combat the threat by investing in their own app stores and building their own developer communities -- but they would be better served by collaborating with developers and manufacturers in particular segments like mobile entertainment services, Ovum said. “The high costs involved in the purchase of PCs, fixed broadband, and gaming consoles will drive less affluent consumers in emerging markets to opt for the mobile device as the primary screen for entertainment, creating an opportunity for telcos to grow their subscriber base with the lure of new content services,” said Shiv Putcha, principal analyst for emerging markets at Ovum, in a news release. Operators may encounter trouble with such services in emerging markets because of price and piracy, but it will still be the best way to harness growing consumption of mobile entertainment, Putcha said. Mobile utilities may be a viable alternative in some markets, Ovum said (http://xrl.us/bnteqn).