Will Content Services Drive MMS?

Interesting article about useage patterns with MMS messaging. This article summarizes a newly-released survey into mobile phone users in Great Britain conducted by market researcher NOP. They questioned 771 people aged 15+, and found that although 65% of respondents had an MMS compatible handset, 17% claimed they didn't know how to send one. The survey also revealed that 21% of mobile phone users have so far sent or received an MMS message. Of this group, photo messages of friends and family were the most popular type of service with 78 per cent have sent or received this type of MMS.

The takeaway idea is that content services (e.g. short, timely video clips delivered to your mobile handset) will drive MMS, rather than user-generated multimedia messaging. People are (surprise, surprise) not so hot about sending short video clips via their mobile phones. Part of the problem is poor UI - but videophones as a general concept have NEVER taken off like people thought they would. Sometimes, a simpler communications channel is actually better are serving people's needs. Otherwise, why is IRC still alive and thriving? :-)