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Voice is "the new mobile data" - or extended service?

We're still waiting for multi-media messaging services (MMS) to generate revenue, and GPRS data revenues are tiny. Where's the boom in mobile data, then? Rob Bamforth at IT-Director says voicemail.

His argument is that "there's a market at some point for compelling, well delivered, fairly priced mobile data services, but for an industry looking for something in the short term to reverse the trend of shrinking average revenue per user, extending the current voice services would seem like a logical step."

There are several opportunities, and a good place to start is with mobile voicemail, he suggests. "It's become a fundamental service for almost all mobile phone users. For some it might only be a good place to hide, but it also provides someplace to go when the recipient's phone is outside coverage."

And the thrust is: a plug for Mobeon. "Open standards and protocols help drive down prices and increase opportunities for more specialist companies to be involved, adding new value to the services. One company thriving here is Swedish-based, Mobeon. Its approach, from a background of unified messaging, has been to provide a rich voicemail experience and further products encompassing videomail, faxmail and mobile email."

Mobeon recently signed a wide-ranging contractwith Ericsson, for installing the latest Ericsson Messaging-over-IP product, which will be rolled out in several countries throughout Europe. "The solution, Ericsson's Messaging-over-IP version 4.1, is powered by Mobeon's M3 series messaging technology and is set to provide both flexibility and scalability for the operator," said the announcement, back in May.

Full text of Bamforth's article expands this thesis.