Real-Time Mobile Video Survey from Ovum Indicates Services Gaining Momentum

The study shows that US mobile operators and equipment vendors are supportive in the drive toward real-time video, which is likely to become more mainstream in the US market over the next few years. Some key findings include :

Over 50% of US wireless operators interviewed plan to launch, or increase access to, real-time video services over the next 2 years

In order to compete with larger players, smaller operators are offering more Internet access and are pursuing flexible IP communication applications from 3rd parties

Almost half of operators surveyed are enthusiastic about delivering “open platforms” for 3rd party software developers
Mark Radoff of Ovum commented on the study’s findings, “Real-time video is coming to the forefront for mobile operators, as many respondents stated significant video activity is in the pipeline for the next two years. Both the small and large operators are keen to launch these services and determine ways to productize real-time video, to differentiate their services and potentially increase ARPU.”

While only AT&T Wireless has thus far launched a video conferencing service, most carriers indicate the service is coming. The study shows that operators launching video conferencing applications would likely provide opportunity for software vendors. While operators have growing confidence in their networks, respondents indicated that optimization is still an issue, as well as usable applications and integration with social networks. It is important to note that more than half of the respondents showed enthusiasm for open platforms, whereby software vendors can launch real-time video applications on an operator-approved handset.

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