Wireless Carriers Struggle to Combat Threat From Over-the-Top Applications, Survey Confirms
Lack of Advanced Messaging Services and Monetization Strategies Affects Carriers' Ability to Compete

(firmenpresse) - ALISO VIEJO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/14/13 -- Recent survey results confirm mobile operators are feeling the threat from Over-The-Top (OTT) applications like Skype, WhatsApp and MessageMe and their drain on traditional SMS revenue. In a new survey of carriers conducted at the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) Global Expo in April by (NASDAQ: SMSI), 82 percent of respondents said they are not effectively monetizing OTT social messaging apps, and 62 percent are concerned about the impact of OTT apps on revenue.
"Ovum predicts that operators will lose $32 billion in SMS revenue to OTT social messaging apps in 2013, and that this number will increase to $86 billion in 2020. As our survey results confirm, operators are feeling the pain," said , senior vice president of global products and programs, Smith Micro. "The fact is operators are in an excellent position to raise the bar with today's social messaging services. They offer a more secure, trusted and reliable service; whereas with OTT apps, do you really know who has access to your messages and personal information?"
"One of the biggest challenges of OTT apps is discovery -- there are thousands of them and growing every day. With the right visual messaging platform, operators can take advantage of prime real estate on the device to offer premium services that generate revenue beyond the one-time app purchase," said Sunil Marolia, vice president of product management at Smith Micro. "With social sharing, personalized content add-ons and targeted mobile ads, visual messaging is a wave operators don't want to miss."
82 percent of respondents are not effectively monetizing OTT applications used by their subscribers, and 12 percent are not sure
53 percent to do not offer any form of advanced visual messaging
Only 31 percent offer visual voicemail, 26 percent offer voicemail-to-text, and 10 percent offer video messaging apps
63 percent of carriers are concerned about the impact of OTT apps on revenue
When asked what type of applications in the would be most popular with their customer base, respondents ranked messaging services (59 percent) and entertainment applications (69 percent) highest, followed by lifestyle applications (27 percent) and productivity applications (16 percent)
"Now that the market has been tested, operators know what types of messaging services work," analyst Neha Dharia said in a statement. "In addition, operators are in a position of strength because they control the entire messaging structure through their access to a user's phone number and usage data. The established billing relationship is a great advantage, as is the fact that to a great extent, operators control the services to which a user is exposed."(1)
"The survey highlights an important issue for carriers, which is the ability to effectively monetize OTT applications when they have no control over what subscribers download," said Steven K. Berry, President & CEO of CCA. "While larger operators can selectively pre-load the latest in visual messaging technology, smaller operators need an over-the-top model that lets them in on the action. This is why we created the -- it gives consumers peace-of-mind knowing the apps on their devices are safe and certified, while letting carriers open new revenue opportunities, build brand recognition, and increase customer loyalty."
For access to additional key findings from the survey, please visit .
(1) Originally published in
Smith Micro Software provides solutions that simplify, secure and enhance the mobile experience. Our portfolio includes a wide range of applications that manage broadband connectivity, data traffic, devices, voice and video communications over wireless networks. With 30 years of experience developing world-class client and server software, Smith Micro helps the leading mobile network operators, device manufacturers and enterprises increase efficiency and capitalize on the growth of mobile-connected consumers and workforces. For more information, visit . (NASDAQ: SMSI)
This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, forward-looking statements relating to the company's financial prospects and other projections of its performance, the existence of new market opportunities and interest in the company's products and solutions, and the company's ability to increase its revenue and regain profitability by capitalizing on these new market opportunities and interest and introducing new products and solutions. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are changes in demand for the company's products from its customers and their end-users, customer concentration given that the majority of our sales depend on a few large client relationships, including Sprint, new and changing technologies, customer acceptance and timing of deployment of those technologies, new and continuing adverse economic conditions, and the company's ability to compete effectively with other software companies. These and other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made on the basis of the views and assumptions of management regarding future events and business performance as of the date of this release, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
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Suzanne Runald
Smith Micro Software, Inc.
+1 (949) 362-5800
Lauren Grassetti
LEWIS PR for Smith Micro
+1 (619) 677-2700
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Bereitgestellt von Benutzer: Marketwired
Datum: 14.05.2013 - 13:05 Uhr
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