GStudy reveals growth potential of mobile services

ABI Research reports the average revenue per user (ARPU) among business users of mobile phones is 24% higher than that of personal users.

The research also found that for mobile data services the gap was even wider, with business users spending 80% more than personal users.

In addition business users consume 69% more minutes per month, and even among consumer-centric services, such as multimedia and entertainment applications, their usage is 78% higher.

However according to ABI principal analyst, Dan Shey, there is still scope for operators to develop their capabilities to serve business customers better.

Given that business users deliver the highest ARPU for both business applications and entertainment, ‘combining the two will pay dividends’, he said.

‘This includes the need for operators to develop more high-end phones targeted to business users, and to drive toward greater service integration.’

For device vendors, Shey said: ‘One key to greater success is to target the implementation of Wi-Fi into devices used by customers with the greatest need for access cost reductions, and the greatest ability to connect to Wi-Fi access points, such as international travellers.’

The web-based survey of 1,223 mobile phone subscribers in the US comprised a series of questions concerning their usage of cellular and wireless services and their interest in emerging products.