SAN DIEGO, Aug. 29, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Consumers who use text messaging (SMS) on their mobile phones represent an important market opportunity for recording companies and other segments of the music industry. This is supported by independent industry research and by recent online polls conducted with the world's largest mobile community -- approximately 10 million registered users in over 200 countries. Today's poll can be viewed at www.sms.ac.
When asked if they would like the ability to use their mobile phone as a portable music player to hear CD-quality music, a resounding 80.1% of 36,584 respondents answered affirmatively. And 84.4% out of 38,266 participants to a separate poll expect this capability will be available on mobile phones in the future.
"For the music industry, the demographic and psychographic signposts are pointing directly to a significant segment of the SMS.ac community," said Michael Pousti, chairman and chief executive officer at SMS.ac, Inc. "The mobile market is already demonstrating its value in the music space. According to Strategy Analytics, consumers worldwide have spent about $2 billion on ring tones thus far.
"And even in the U.S., where the mobile data market lags behind Europe and Asia, industry research shows that the number of Internet users who have bought a ring tone significantly exceeds the number who have paid to download a song," continued Pousti. "Communicating with fans via SMS, selling concert tickets and implementing marketing promotions are just a few of the other ways the music industry can leverage the mobile medium."
60.2% of 35,476 SMS.ac members who responded to an August poll indicated they would be more likely to attend a concert if they received sample music, information and special offers to their mobile phones.
"Music is one of the most popular topics in our smsClubs application," said Pousti. "We host literally thousands of music-oriented, member-established groups, some with nearly 15,000 members. These consumers are sharing news, gossip and opinions with each other, using text messaging. We have smsClubs dedicated to specific artists like Vanilla Ice in Romania and Bon Jovi in India, and music genres like Pop in the UK and Heavy Metal in Bangladesh. You'll even find clubs dedicated to DJs like Paul Oakenfold and 'Scooter' in England."
A recent Forrester Research study supports the importance of mobile community participants to the music industry. Forrester's report states that the digitally inclined, those who more frequently engage in digital music activities such as downloading files or ripping and burning CDs, buy proportionately more CDs than those who never or rarely take part in digital music activities.
"These are likely the same types of users who are enthusiastically looking forward to near CD-quality music and related applications," commented Pousti. "As mobile networks and handsets evolve, SMS.ac's proprietary MMSbox(tm) technology will be the perfect platform for supporting media-rich, interactive applications including music clips, photo messages, videos and more."
MMSbox(tm) technology enables the exchange of text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) mobile communications across any technology platform, deliverable to any enabled wireless device. SMS.ac users receive connectivity to approximately 400 mobile networks around the globe.
The delivery of music and other digital content will be just one of the topics discussed at Global Mobile 2003, the world's premier wireless communications conference, coming to San Diego September 24-26, 2003. This year's Global Mobile theme is: "The Search for the Killer App." To join the industry's leading wireless operators, application developers, handset manufacturers, content creators and others committed to shaping the future of mobile communications, visit www.sms.ac/globalmobile and click on "Register."
And it's not too late to sponsor or exhibit at this year's Global Mobile event. For more information, click on the Sponsors/Exhibitors section of the Global Mobile 2003 site. Industry analysts from internationally recognized market research or financial institutions and members of the press may attend Global Mobile 2003 free of charge by pre-registering at www.sms.ac/globalmobile.
To receive a complete copy of the SMS.ac survey referenced above, please send an email with your request to prcomm@sms.ac.
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About SMS.ac
SMS.ac, Inc. is a wireless communications company whose proprietary MMSbox technology enables the exchange of text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) mobile communications across any technology platform and deliverable to any enabled wireless device. A demonstration of MMSbox technology is available at www.sms.ac. With approximately 10 million registered users in 220 countries, SMS.ac is host to the largest mobile community in the world, offering connectivity to more than 400 mobile networks worldwide. Through its core MMSbox(tm) technologies, SMS.ac, Inc. enables interoperable, worldwide wireless interaction between network operators, the Internet, enterprises, consumers and application/content developers. Through its global initiatives, SMS.ac is igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data.
SMS.ac derives revenues through shared revenue relationships with mobile operators around the world. Revenues are also realized from mobile advertisements, technology licensing, subscriptions, sponsorships and other streams. SMS.ac's consumer site (www.sms.ac) is an example of the brandable web interfaces to MMSbox(tm) technologies available for licensing. To view the SMS.ac corporate web site, visit www.sms.ac/corporate.