I just heard an interesting rumour concerning mobile operator billing services: It looks like a Finnish mobile operator will enable (mobile Internet) content providers to charge for their content from users using their GPRS/3G Internet access point (not WAP Access Point). I have been talking with the operators' technical personnel for quite some time already about the availability of such a service, and they've been just telling me that "they are working on it". I actually asked the operator's technical contact immediately if there was any truth in this rumour, and he confirmed that this is the case. They are going to start a commercial pilot in the near future.
This is actually very good news for all content guys out there. At least those ones who have been selling content to Finnish WAP users (we've had WAP-based click-to-pay-billing services in Finland available for many years already). The problem with the WAP-billing has just been the fact that according to Nokia, less than 25% of the mobile phone users are actually using WAP access point to connect to the Internet; the great majority of the users use the Internet access point to connect to the Internet (and bypassing the WAP gateway). Therefore, they have not been able to pay for the mobile content.
Enabling users to pay even if they are on an Internet access point will be damn good news for the mobile service industry. Can't wait to get my first client to launch a premium content service that supports it. Hopefully it will become possible in other countries / networks ASAP.
2008/12/03
Make money too, with mobile internet
When companies are thinking to have somekind of presence on mobile internet, I mean having a mobile site, they usually think that as a way to share information, news and other content as an additional "media channel".
Too often it just stays this way, yet another channel to publish information for those who perhaps find it and are interested. It should not stay this way as next logical, and necessary, steps should be to start thinking and working how companies can utilize this channel, which is not tied to location or wires, much more better.
Some companies are getting this. World's third-largest pizza chain, Papa John's has generated 1 million dollars thru their mobile web site in less than six months. Its still peanuts when compared to their yearly online sales (more than 1 billion USD), but encouraging and fast results.
So, kids are ordering pizza online via their mobile phones... suprisingly not, as user demographics covers all age groups. Group of 35-44 years old is roughly the same size as 18-25 years old. Just another good example that its not only kids who are willing to use advanced mobile functionalities or mobile services. Older ones are too, if the service is needed, easy to use and useful. Are yours?
Too often it just stays this way, yet another channel to publish information for those who perhaps find it and are interested. It should not stay this way as next logical, and necessary, steps should be to start thinking and working how companies can utilize this channel, which is not tied to location or wires, much more better.
Some companies are getting this. World's third-largest pizza chain, Papa John's has generated 1 million dollars thru their mobile web site in less than six months. Its still peanuts when compared to their yearly online sales (more than 1 billion USD), but encouraging and fast results.
So, kids are ordering pizza online via their mobile phones... suprisingly not, as user demographics covers all age groups. Group of 35-44 years old is roughly the same size as 18-25 years old. Just another good example that its not only kids who are willing to use advanced mobile functionalities or mobile services. Older ones are too, if the service is needed, easy to use and useful. Are yours?
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