This week we have released a new report entitled “Broadband Services and Applications in the 4G Era: Beyond Existing 3G Applications.” The report is based on numerous interviews with leading service providers including Orange, Sprint, Clearwire and vendors like Intel, Motorola, etc. Most carriers are still in an exploring phase with regards to 4G mobile applications and services, and which pricing and business models will be used on their upcoming 4G networks, as activity and anticipation surrounding 4G is quickly mounting. 4G apps will be driven by more snackable data plans to be used across various device types. Here we share some of the key findings from the report now available:
- The evolution from 3G to 4G will be stimulated by services offering enhanced quality, which will require increased bandwidth, elevated sophistication of large-scale information provision, and improved customization capabilities to support user demands.
- 4G services, which are likely to be extended and improved versions of some of existing 3G services, will be available across seamlessly across various wireless technologies and device types, with the same QoS anytime, anywhere.
- As carriers continue to roll out more capable and affordable 3G smartphones featuring truer web browsers, wider screens, better processors, better storage capacity, and embedded with touchscreen UI and multitasking capabilities, this should help drive the adoption of the upcoming 4G application and services.
- Mobile app stores are set to become a key distribution channel in the 4G ecosystem. In fact we expect to see more carriers promoting their existing mobile storefront as their new mobile app store.
- Next generation apps such as wireless VoIP, e-readers apps, mobile IPTV, M2M apps and location-aware mobile apps/services embedded with social networking and user-generated content capabilities are likely to become key applications in the upcoming 4G apps space.
However, several obstacles will need to be overcome before the future 4G apps market reaches its full potential. These include handset limitation, the poor user experience on many feature phones, the need for sustainable and profitable 4G business and pricing models/plans, mobile discovery issues, privacy and security issues, increased fragmentation and the lack of standards. Other issues include the low penetration and high cost of data plans and services, and the lack of awareness when it comes to certain mobile data services.
Enjoy this week’s newsletter!
Adlane Fellah
Maravedis CEO & Founder
For more information, contact the author at afellah@maravedis-bwa.com
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No reproduction without consent.
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