Mobile video services – including video telephony, video messaging, video sharing, video-on-demand and VoD downloads – will only generate around $121 million this year... but the market will be worth $2 billion worldwide in 2013, according to the latest report from ABI Research.
Most of the money will come from video phone calls, video messaging and 'video on demand', with growth being driven by a combination of consumer demand, improving 3G coverage and increasing smartphone penetration.
ABI senior analyst Mark Beccue is advising mobile networks to take an active role in the delivery of mobile video. He said "MNOs mustn’t settle for the role of undifferentiated mobile ISPs that manage ‘dumb pipes’. They should provide a variety of mobile video services and leverage strategic ecosystems until they upgrade their networks to provide quality video services. Partnering with device OEMs and software solution providers will help to optimize mobile devices. This will contribute to an already significant investment, but the rewards will be great."