CTIA Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey

CTIA released its newest Industry Survey this morning, and Steve Largent highlighted some of the key stats:

-there are 243 million wireless subscribers in the US, which amounts to 81% of the population

-there were 28.8 billion SMS messages sent in June of 2007

-an average of 1 billion SMS messages are sent per day

Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008

 But we all know that wireless is about more than texting.  As Steve Ballmer discussed, its about developing ways to enhance your life- both work and personal- on the go.  Microsoft has been at the forefront of taking the desktop mobile, and as Steve said, "in many countries, the phone will be the PC." 

Steve's announcement of the Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 will help cell phones be managed more similarly PC's.  It will work with upcoming Windows Mobile devices, and will offer device management, critical security management, and mobile VPN. 

Mobile Lifestyle

But consumers want more than business functions on their devices- they want new ways to communicate with friends and colleagues, share media, and find what they need.  With enhanced mobile messaging, speedy search abilities, photo upload capabilities, and location-based search, Steve also demonstrated some of the ways that Windows Moble enhances the personal experience.

 It might be more exciting for some to look at what's going on in the mobile content world and talk about the possibilities coming down the road. Video, games, music.. that's fun stuff. But don't forget this is the "WIRELESS I.T .& Entertainment®" show, and that the enterprise shares top billing.

Businesses all over the country, of all sizes, are finding out wireless solutions are making them increasingly more efficient and productive, and that ultimately makes them more profitable. They just have to take the leap, and I talked with AT&T Business Mobility Marketing VP Mike Woodward about that. Take a look and hear Mike's thoughts about how far wireless data's come in the enterprise, ROI, and what three components are coming together to really give wireless data a big push into the mainstream.

As busy as yesterday was with Billboard's Mobile Entertainment Live!, Andrew Seybold University, and the Smart Phone Summit 2007, the show officially begins today.  Enterprise is the theme of the day, and Steve Ballmer will be delivering his keynote shortly with some Microsoft product and partnership announcements, including some news for Windows Mobile customers. 

After the keynote, I will be heading over to the floor to check out the exhibitors and interview people about new product and software announcements.  If there are any questions you would like asked- let me know!

Here is today's schedule:

9:00 AM- 5:00 PM- 4GMF 2007

9:30 AM- 10:30 AM- Keynote Session

10:00 AM- 5:00 PM- Exhibit Floor Open

11:00 AM- 12:30 PM- CTIA SMART PASS Executive Conference

1:00 PM- 2:30 PM; 3:30 PM- 5:00 PM- Educational Sessions

2:00 PM- 3:00 PM- Policy Outlook Track

1:00 PM- 3:30 PM- Making the Most of Advanced Mobile Java Programming

2:30 PM- 3:30 PM- Deloitte Wireless Fast 50 Awards Ceremnony

6:00 PM- 8:00 PM- WIC General Member Reception

Or so says M:Metrics, a company that tracks mobile trends.  Jaimee Minney talked about the increasing demand for mobile services, and how traditional mobile content consumer demographics are starting to change:

How much demand is there for opt-in mobile advertising?  Well, according to Irv Remedios, quite a bit.  His company- mozes- works with big-time brands, bands, and grassroots organizations to develop integrated mobile messaging campaigns.  Take a look at what he has to say:

If Mr. Mossberg were here at CTIA’s Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007® show in San Francisco, he’d see what the wireless world really looks like today.  Instead of writing about the old 2G world,  he’d see firsthand how we have moved into the 3G broadband world, where options open up for consumers.

He would see that there are more than 600 different wireless devices available to consumers in the U.S. today, from carriers, manufacturers, and third-party retailers.  Wireless customers in the U.S. can exchange voice, text and photo messages, can download or watch streaming videos and listen to radio programs. There are more than 150 wireless companies providing service across the country, from nationwide to regional and local providers.  And dozens more companies have entered and exited the marketplace, driven by entrepreneurial vision and ambition to make their mark. If those things don’t define the meaning of a free market, what does?

The wireless marketplace is not static or stodgy.  Wireless service providers are not the soviet ministries of old – they are dynamic players in a competitive market, working with partners to ensure that devices deliver what consumers expect, without bringing down cell sites.  They are not dumb pipes, trying to substitute for the competitive marketplace – they are marketplace players.  They are many things at once, but what they are today is not what they will necessarily be tomorrow.  Maybe in the digital world, wireless and computing are evolving towards each other.  If so, it’s because wireless devices are offering consumers more choices and capabilities, not because the computer industry offers a better market structure.

Handset subsidies have lowered the barriers to adopting wireless service for more than 240 million Americans.  Fifteen percent of customers use prepaid or pay-as-you-go service plans that don’t involve contracts.  That’s different from many other countries, true enough, but wireless service and wireless handsets cost American consumers a lot less than they cost consumers in most other countries.  American wireless consumers pay less per minute and use more minutes than consumers in every European country – that’s a good equation for American consumers.  And there are more network operators providing more choices for consumers in the U.S. than in most other developed countries in the world.

That’s where the U.S. wireless industry is today, but that’s not where we will be tomorrow.  We won’t stop pushing the boundaries to give consumers more and better products and services.  It’s unfortunate that Mr. Mossberg has fallen for the hollow argument that the U.S. is behind in wireless.  In fact, wireless in the U.S. is dynamic, innovative, and working to deliver for consumers.

While at Mobile Entertainment Live! today, I had a chance to speak with Debra Bluman of Crisp Wireless briefly about what her company is doing in the developing world of mobile applications and advertising.  Crisp Wireless is working with a number of high profile companies and is developing really innovative ways to deliver interactive content on mobile devices.  Check out what she has to say:

We might be a day away from the official opening of CTIA I.T. & Wireless Entertainment® 2007, but today's full of a variety of special interest seminars ranging from Billboard's Mobile Entertainment Live to AT&T and Accenture's Enterprise Mobility afternoon session. Throw in seminars on mobile marketing, location-based services, smartphones, 4G, and Andy Seybold's outstanding day-long "university", and it's pretty clear there's something for everybody.. and the show hasn't even started yet! 

 I had an interesting flight out here on a new airline... okay, it was Virgin America, and the in-flight interactive media was outstanding. You could watch live television, pick your own movie, compile a music playlist from more than 50 different artists, play games, and even IM other passengers... all of that right from your seat. It was a totally customized experience and was obviously VA's effort to give passengers what they want. Maybe you don't want to talk to your colleague in 16D, but for families or friends who are split up on the plane, in-flight chat from the seat can be a cool thing. What I think is interesting is the parallel to the wireless experience, with the exception that wireless is well ahead of the airlines in moving quickly to give consumers the choice of what they want. Subscribers get to choose the bells and whistles we like for the pocket-sized computer we carry around, carriers take great steps to make sure everything works, and and here in the US we pay less for and use wireless more than any other country on the planet. 

The value proposition for consumers is unequaled, and it's all because of the competition and innovation that is alive and well in the US wireless market. There are a lot of romantic notions about other countries and what you can do with your mobile in them, but check out this podcast on the Global Mobile Marketplace and hear from analysts who can help separate facts from fiction. The bottom line is the US market is the most vibrant in the world, it continues to respond to consumer wants and needs, and the best is more certainly still to come.