U.S. missing from top 10 mobile multimedia countries

Mobile Internet, The, Dec, 2004

Japan and South Korea lead the world in mobile multimedia usage, according to a report from Telecommunications Management Group Inc. titled "Superstars of the Mobile Internet," while the United States did not make the list.

The report examines which countries lead the world in using mobile handsets to download entertainment, exchange picture messages, and access the Internet.

Japan and South Korea together accounted for about 57 percent of the 86 million worldwide mobile multimedia users. TMG predicts worldwide mobile multimedia users will grow to nearly 110 million this year. The company also estimates mobile multimedia and text messaging services generated $45 billion in revenues for operators last year.

Other countries in the top 10 for mobile multimedia usage include France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Singapore.

"The launch of higher-speed mobile networks around the world is finally beginning to have an impact on mobile multimedia usage," said Michael Minges, senior market analyst at TMG. "Greater bandwidth coupled with a growing proportion of Internet-enabled handsets is leading to more compelling content and starting to increase demand for mobile multimedia."

For more information, go to www.tmgtelecom.com