Europe's Mobile Operators Step Up their Game as Social Networking Users Increase by 150 Percent by End of 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe mobile operators are called upon to take full advantage of mobile social networking's potential as the number of users in the region is expected to increase from 52 million in 2009 to 112 million at the end of this year and could reach over 450 million users by 2014, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Mobile Operators See Strong Revenue Potential from Social Networking looks at the social networking business model in Europe and analyzes its future, including forecasting the number of social networking members expected by 2014. The 18-page report addresses three possible drivers of uptake: a quality user experience based on the high penetration of 3G and smartphones that we project across Europe; operators' efforts aimed at increasing mobile social networking uptake; and the efforts of social network providers to promote the value of mobility among their users. Case studies examine Orange and Telefonica. Download an excerpt (http://www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PRN012810_INEUR2.1) of this report.  Purchase this report online  (http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_eur_100106.htm?sc=PRN012810_INEUR2.1).

Pyramid Research believes that there is a strong opportunity for mobile social networking in Europe and predicts the total number of users will increase by 150 percent by end of 2010 to 112 million, and will reach over 450 million users by 2014, notes Stela Bokun, analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report. "Technical issues, such as the penetration of 3G networks and advanced handsets, that are of paramount importance to many other markets are, with few exceptions, non-issues in most European markets, and both mobile operators and SNSs are motivated toward a joint future," says Bokun.  

For this growth to last throughout the entire forecast period, both mobile operators and SNSs should strengthen their collaboration and bring it to a new level. "By collaborating, European operators and global SNSs can increase the pie for everyone by creating new revenue opportunities from increased data usage and can benefit from new revenue streams, such as advertising," Bokun says.  "SNSs' proactive role in promoting the importance of mobile access among their users will be a strong contributing factor in the projected uptake of mobile social networking," she continues.  "For example, through strong collaboration with mobile operators, Facebook has grown its mobile users from only 5 million in January 2008 to an estimated 85 million in December 2009; our projection is that more than 30 percent of its global mobile users are in Europe," adds Bokun.

Mobile Operators See Strong Revenue Potential from Social Networking is part of Pyramid Research's Europe Telecom Insider report series. Telecom Insiders are packed with trend analysis, industry best practices, market sizing and forecasting, competitor analysis, and case studies, providing you information you can leverage to make better business decisions.

Download an excerpt of this report here (http://www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PRN012810_INEUR2.1). This report is priced at $595 and can be purchased online here (http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_eur_100106.htm?sc=PRN012810_INEUR2.1) or by contacting Amalia Vega at avega@pyr.com or telephone at +1-809-330-4520.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries – a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry's most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the $3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (www.techweb.com), the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology.  Through its three core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and paid content – TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. TechWeb brands includes: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and VoiceCon; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading magazines.  TechWeb is a UBM company, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services, with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities – from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists – with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

SOURCE Pyramid Research