I can honestly say that I can’t remember the last time I sent one of my contacts a text message, which is pretty crazy when you think about it as sending texts are generally free these days. Operators are more than happy to provide you with unlimited texts and unlimited minutes. Why? There is no longer any real money to be made in minutes and messages.
Over The Top Applications (OTT) are allowing us to make calls, send texts and share pictures at no charge what so ever! Even my virtual office allows me to make local and international calls over WiFi.
So the real question here is.... WHERE’S THE MONEY AT? If mobile operators are happy to supply you with free minutes and texts they must have their eye on the bottom line, and that bottom line is data!
The need to interact whilst roaming has never been higher. With all of the social media interaction, streaming live video and general internet browsing becoming part of our day to day activities, the operators have had no choice but to charge a premium on this service, and this service will continue to have consumers asking for more speed and bandwidth. After all, the quicker we can let our FB network know we are having a coffee or going on vacation the better right!
There is of course a low margin to made by the operators on handsets, but with Apple & Samsung becoming as common as paper or plastic, there is certainly an opening in the handset market and of course more cash to made!
I would like to cap this blog off with putting the question to my network ....... what’s next for mobile? Where is the next pay day coming for the operators?