Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Thursday, December 19, 2013

MEF predictions: ten key mobile trends for 2014

MEF, the global trade association for companies engaged in mobile content and commerce, has revealed its mobile industry predictions for the next 12 months. Its forecast of the top ten trends combines insights from the group’s Global Board of Directors with research from the recent Global Mobile Consumer Survey.

1. The dawn of Mobile 3.0

The new breed of relationship super apps will displace one-off purchases – for music or video for example – with longer term subscription-based streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix. Higher value items will be purchased via the mobile device with users migrating their spending on big ticket items from online and the high street to mobile. [MEF’s 2013 Global Consumer Survey shows that the high spend threshold grew to 39% in 2013 (plus 8% from 2012) on items over $151].

2. The conversation will move from big data to smart data

Case studies will show that 2014 is the year mainstream users adopt advanced data analytics to create accurate, actionable insights that drive mobile content and commerce services and support fast, iterative product development in the quest to achieve maximum user engagement.

3. Second screening (not dual screening)

In 2014 developed market broadcasters will embrace second screening by offering tailored companion content, targeted advertising and direct opportunities to purchase from-ad-to-phone. In growth markets, the opportunity of second phone ownership will prevail. [49% of consumers in developed markets US, UK and China along with 42% of consumers in LATAM watch TV while using mobile media. In Asia this drops to 24%, but 51% of Indonesians use two phones]

4. Trust as a critical asset

Despite revelations on commercial tracking and compromise of consumer privacy, regulators and the public will be reassured by robust industry self-regulatory initiatives and the trend for Trust to be the biggest single barrier to purchase growth on mobile will reverse for the first time in three years. Apps and brands demonstrating data transparency and best practice will differentiate themselves as ‘Trusted Apps’.  [MEF’s Global Consumer Survey 2013 reported that 40% of consumers see Trust as the biggest single barrier, increasing from 35% in 2012 and 27% in 2011].

5. Wearable technology will create new ecosystems

Moving beyond glasses and experimentation, wearable sensor technology will support the new entry of major brand verticals into the market.  2014 will see the development of new ecosystems and mobile partnerships in wearables and will help accelerate mobile-led services such as m-health, insurance and personal safety.

6. Growth market device vendors will challenge

The market share of leaders Apple and Samsung will stay strong but decline, as device vendors from China and India take an increasingly significant share worldwide.

7. Major financial players will assert themselves in the mobile arena

Cross-border mobile money services, for payments and remittances, will start to show substantial traction for the first time in 2014.

8. Mass-adoption of education and m-health apps will be driven by mobile-first markets

In 2013, 26% of educational app usage was from India followed by 25% in South Africa and 20% in Kenya according to the results of MEF’s 13-country study. In, 2014 African mobile start-ups focused on these areas will secure venture investments exceeding $100m for the first time.

9. The internet of things becomes a reality

Driven by Open Standards, 2014 will see the emergence of a flourishing ecosystem for the wireless internet of things mostly controlled by the consumer through the mobile device including automotive and home automation.

10. Operators actively reclaim the consumer relationship

2014 will see operators launch new products & services around communications, payments & identity and partner with disrupters to establish greater consumer choice and value.

Andrew Bud, MEF’s Global Chair, said “2013 has been the year in which mobile became the principal area of opportunity, growth and innovation for start-ups and major technology vendors alike.  The energy has been global and we’ve seen centres of mobile content and commerce innovation spring up across the whole world. Consumers drive this progress with their enthusiasm to use the mobile device for deeper engagement with brands, services and commerce, along with the increasing willingness to undertake in higher value transactions and establish long term relationships via mobile. MEF’s third annual Global Consumer Survey indicates with real clarity that we are heading into a new phase - Mobile 3.0 - and our annual predictions for the industry reveal the power of evolution in existing ecosystems and the creation of exciting new ecosystems involving new brands and verticals.”

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

From improved performance to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing the functionality and usability of smartphones for users

By incorporating advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, AI can help to optimize a smartphone's performance, providing users with a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Whatever happened to all my tech?

Whatever happened to all my tech?

Mark Bridge revisits his mobile technology reviews

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2016: Network Function Virtualisation, 4G throttling and video calling

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

A 'recording watch' that links to your smartphone

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

Author: The Fonecast
4 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
Making mobile websites work better

Making mobile websites work better

Device detection and responsive design explained

Mark Bridge writes:

James Rosewell shows me a colourful roll of paper that's the width of an iPhone but well over three metres long. When I look closer, I can see it's a printed copy of the Wall Street Journal's mobile website. That's a lot of scrolling to do... and a pretty unfriendly user experience for anyone reading the news online. Why does it work so badly?

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
RSS
123457910Last

Recent Podcasts

Big announcements from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and LG

Podcast - 4th June 2014

Iain, James and Mark begin this week's podcast with Apple's recent iOS 8 revelation and its plan to acquire Beats Electronics.

They then move on to discuss Samsung's Tizen-powered smartphone, a new flagship device from LG and the latest Microsoft Surface tablet - as well as a network takeover in Ireland, BlackBerry’s M2M moves and UK price changes for Vodafone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Takeovers, tablets, taxes and testing... all from the perspective of the mobile industry

Podcast - 21st May 2014

This week's podcast begins with news about the creation of Dixons Carphone plc. We then move on to talk about patent-related legal action, customised Braille phones and the health concerns of children using smartphones.

There's also time to discuss tablet shipments, potential protests and foreign network sales.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Cloud computing and Mobile: questions and answers from Mobile Monday London May 2014

Podcast - 16th May 2014

This podcast contains the audience question-and-answer session from 'Cloud Computing and Mobile'; a Mobile Monday London event held on 12th May 2014.

The discussion was chaired by Camille Mendler, Principal Analyst at Informa, with a panel that comprised Rob Easton of Google, Dr Janko Mrsic-Flogel from Private Planet, Caroline Van Den Bergh of Golden Gekko and Jonathan Raper from TransportAPI.com.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Cloud computing and Mobile: Mobile Monday London May 2014 panel discussion

Podcast - 16th May 2014

Cloud Computing and Mobile was the title of the Mobile Monday London event on 12th May 2014.

The session was chaired by Camille Mendler, Principal Analyst at Informa, who was joined by a panel that comprised Rob Easton of Google, Dr Janko Mrsic-Flogel from Private Planet, Caroline Van Den Bergh of Golden Gekko and Jonathan Raper from TransportAPI.com.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Huawei upgrades its flagship, Vodafone fixes its prices and Carphone Warehouse prepares an announcement

Podcast - 14th May 2014

This week's podcast begins with a new keenly-priced flagship smartphone from Huawei. We then move on to talk about a UK price promise from Vodafone, mobile payments, feature phone upgrades, WiFi hotspots and the benefits of a Carphone/Dixons merger.

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge condense all the biggest mobile industry news headlines from the past 7 days into a free 30-minute podcast.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First2345791011Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«March 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
26272829123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement