IP Convergence: Beyond VoIP, Beyond Cost Savings

In this day, we are all hit by a constant barrage of advertisements. From the web, email, TV, magazines, radio, internet radio, news videos, and movie theatres we now have an expectaion of an advertising flash suspending our immediate gratification, and have built a subliminal blockade to the best of our ability to focus on the content we seek. I recall the day when I was able to watch a DVD without being forced to fumble through 5 movie previews (I've noticed that Disney is the most aggressive).  So when I saw the AT&T comment on the Washington Post regarding the revenue opportunity of mobile advertisements, and the operator's strategy to realize it I can’t say that I’m surprised.  After all, unless you have been living in a cave for the past few years, mobile phones are already becoming an Internet utility device for many users.
We’ve already seen some mobile web banners in their early stages by ESPN’s WAP site.  However, mobile Internet is still a bit expensive at this point to open up any real opportunity.  The Mobile Internet is still primarily used for targeted information searches, based upon 3rd party research rather than simply perusing about.

United States Top Mobile Web Domains: March 2007			United Kingdom Top Mobile Web Domains: March 2007
Rank	Domain	Audience	Domain	Audience
1	google.com	1,894,143	google.co.uk	348,873
2	yahoo.com	1,315,801	bbc.co.uk	298,016
3	msn.com	903,158	orange.co.uk	215,353
4	microsoft.com	734,664	three.co.uk	210,286
5	live.com	697,589	o2.co.uk	202,373
6	go.com	571,469	google.com	148,722
7	cnn.com	509,772	t-mobile-favourites.co.uk	108,463
8	weather.com	460,564	ebay.co.uk	106,386
9	myspace.com	435,910	msn.com	93,386
10	passport.net	434,050	yahoo.com	89,668

Source: M:Metrics. Reports for the month of March are projected to represent the universe of smartphone owners and are based on in-tab panel sizes of approximately 500 panelists in the United States and 600 panelists in the United Kingdom.

Many enterprises are examining opportunities to realize revenue in the mobile space, but are in the formative stages of their research.  Looking at mobile phones beyond voice, and even beyond multi-modal communication such as FMC is a critical element to the formulation of a broad business strategy.  In the next few years, you will probably see popup blockers on mobile web browsers!