Ovum forecasts social messaging will cost telcos over $23 billion in SMS revenue in 2012

According to an upcoming report by Ovum, social messaging is estimated to cost telecoms operators over $23bn in mobile messaging revenue in 2012.

Neha Dharia, analyst at Ovum and author of the report, provisionally titled ‘Counteracting the Social Messaging Threat,’ has the following comment:

“This year will see IP-based messaging players widening their footprint across the globe. KakaoTalk is set to spread beyond South Korea, while WhatsApp continues its rapid proliferation across the world, and Facebook strengthens its role in mobile communications. Telcos are therefore now under pressure to expand their messaging portfolios and offer a range of messaging services beyond SMS.  In response, operators have already begun to innovate and offer creative new services to their consumers using the IP channel. But despite their efforts, the loss sustained due to social messaging will amount to approximately $9bn more than in 2011.”

To arrange an interview or for more information on this report, please contact Claire Booty on +44 (0) 20 7017 7916, or email claire.booty@ovum.com.

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