From EyeforTravel.com Correspondent in London<br><br>The market is "slow to see mobile internet as a serious channel" an
Published: 13 Nov 2005
From EyeforTravel.com Correspondent in London
The market is "slow to see mobile internet as a serious channel" and there is "lack of 'sexy' content", said Michael Lacy, chief executive officer, Handy Group (UK) Ltd, one of the speakers on t
Lacy added that there is very little take-up of 'mature' content over mobile. On the current user trends, he added that the data retail market is dominated by male 15-19 year olds for tones, music, videoclips, soft-porn etc. He added that handsets are patchy with more than 100 types, and 3G is getting there.
On indications that mobile is a viable distribution channel, Lacy said that there are more than 60 million active phones in the UK; 85% of households have one or more phones; More than 50% of those are configured to access the internet, all will receive SMS. Lay added, "750 million phones will have been purchased during 2005 globally. The data usage in the UK increasing at more than 30% pa, 2005 study determines 65% of the population travel with their phones, 85% of new phones sold today are pre-configured for mobile internet and Google and Yahoo are investing heavily in mobile search."
On key factors for the growth, Lay said: Connectivity (factors such as technology - 2.5G (GPRS), 3G and 3.5G, coverage and networks supporting data tariff's), Handsets (configured for Internet 'out of the box' - I-Mode, Web'n'walk and agnostic connections - wi-fi, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G), Content, Usability (key to online success) and Interdependency.
Lay said, mobile is expected to deliver as there are indications that connectivity issues will be sorted by mid-2006, ones related to handsets during next year, content by end-2006, usability greatly enhanced in 2006 and "the year of mobile internet (expected to be) - 2007".
Handy Group provides a mobile sales distribution channel for supplier partners. Phone users can browse products over the mobile internet and buy direct from their phone - an online experience but all done from their handset, anytime, anywhere, anyplace. The showcase mobile portal is HandyTraveller accessed by sending the key-word 'handy' to 61177 and the costs to use the service are standard network rates - normally less than 5p for 30 mins browsing. The technology the company utilises to provide the HandyTraveller service both as a web-based travel portal and as a mobile phone based portal is available to our business partners as a 'white label' product.
On operations of his company, Lay told EyeforTravel.com that the company is to add more options such as flights, London hotels, theatre breaks, theme park breaks and travel insurance by January 2006. "We are positioning the service for take-up in 2007."
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