US : Mobile video messaging services are at the center of the technology convergence that is helping mobile customers realize greater levels of self-expression and online community participation. According to principal analyst Dan Shey ( inset )of ABI Research, “Mobile video messaging is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the convergence of increased mobile device capabilities and consumers’ desire for broader communication options beyond voice. In fact, we expect the opportunity for mobile video services to produce a compound annual growth rate of nearly 60%, amounting to $10 billion in 2012.”

But mobile video messaging is just part of a much bigger portfolio of mobile video services that includes video calling, video sharing, and mobile TV services. The complexity of the mobile video value chain affects mobile equipment and service suppliers not only in industrialized countries but also in developing regions of the world.

Given such complex conditions, ABI Research has created forecasts for uptake of mobile video messaging and telephony services for eight regions of the world: North America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific-Developed, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific-Developing, Middle East, and Africa.  

The industrialized parts of the world with the highest concentration of advanced video devices will see the greatest uptake of mobile video services. However, don’t discount the developing regions. Says Shey, “Social networking sites such as Orkut are very popular outside of the US and Europe. Mobile video messaging will facilitate mobile content delivery using a growing base of video recorder devices and established 2.5G networks.”

ABI Research’s recent study, “Mobile Video Communications Services” provides a comprehensive analysis of the global mobile video services market. While the main focus of the report is video messaging and telephony services, video broadcast service market forecasts are also included. The report examines in detail the network and device telecommunication enablers as well as the regional differences for various demand drivers and inhibitors. It is rounded out by a review of the role and current activities of value chain participants, and market forecasts. Forecast analysis includes video phone penetration and shipments, and video services uptake by customer, service type, revenues and penetration for eight different world regions.