Ringtones Fall Short in Latin America as Operators Look to Mobile Internet

Ringtone revenue falls short in Latin America as mobile Internet access will account for almost 79 percent of all non-messaging mobile data revenue by 2014, according to the latest forecast data from Pyramid Research (ww.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Although 11 percent of total mobile data subscribers will be ringtones users by year-end 2009, as noted in Pyramid Research's recently-released third quarter 2009 Latin America mobile data forecast, deeper opportunities for network operators clearly lie in mobile Internet services. "The increasing importance of mobile Internet in the data revenue pie is a clear trend in every single market, with the subsegment growing the fastest in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico," writes Cesar Jimenez, in LA Mobile Operators Turn a Deaf Ear to Ringtones. "By 2014, we estimate, mobile Internet access in Latin America will account for $16.5 billion, or almost 79 percent of all non-messaging mobile data revenue, whereas ringtones will make up a mere 4 percent."

Read the full Pyramid Point "LA Mobile Operators Turn a Deaf Ear to Ringtones."

Our Mobile Data Forecast products provide complete pictures of demand trends for 19 geographical markets in Latin America and 58 other markets around the world. It includes five years of historical data and five years of market projections for metrics such as penetration, mobile subscriptions, users of specific data services, MOU, ARPS, and revenue. The Forecasts are based on extensive field research and use a consistent methodology, aiming to capture the total spending on mobile data services in each market. Download a forecast template here.

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