Video phone sales surge, pay use doesn't
August 19, 2009
Market research firm Infonetics Research has released a Mobile Video Equipment, Phones, Services, and Subscribers report, which tracks DVB-H, DVB-SH, 3G, MBMS, TdTV, FLO, and CMMB products and vendors, including Apple, LG, Motorola, Nokia, ONDA, RIM, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and others.
“Though video-capable phones continue to become more widely available, subscriber uptake of pay TV services (not free-to-air video) continues to disappoint. A combination of poor macroeconomic conditions, sub par 3G network coverage for streamed video services, and pricing that puts mobile video services out of reach for many consumers is contributing to the lacklustre growth of mobile video services around the world. While mobile video services are expected to eventually grow significantly, until operators combine broadcast, on-demand, and sideloading, revenue will remain a drop in the bucket of overall mobile service revenue,” explains Jeff Heynen, directing analyst for broadband and video at Infonetics Research.