'Want to make money, mobile Internet charges have to be lowered'

Wireless networks need to lower the cost of mobile Internet access if they want this new " revenue channel " to take off, mobile carriers and mobile software recommend.

The telecommunications industry in developed countries has made huge bets for mobile Internet. They did not hesitate to steep more than 100 billion euros to buy technology licenses, and poured a much larger amount of money for infrastructure. However, the popularity of phones that have access to the Internet is getting more and more . going down.

" In fact, it takes a relatively long time for mobile phone rates to become reasonable and acceptable ," said Kai Oistamo, Nokia's mobile phone division manager. Mr. Kai is attending 3GSM, the world's largest annual wireless exhibition, which takes place in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

The key to success

Source: AP " With data, the biggest problem today is not sure how much it costs. Of course it is very high, but what is it specifically? Is it possible to lower it? This is a problem. need to be resolved definitely , "Kai said.

The growth rate of revenue from high-end and expensive phones has slowed significantly in the third and fourth quarters of 2006, especially in Western Europe. The worst damage of this trend is three giants Nokia, Motorola and Samsung.

According to data from research firm Canalys, sales of PDA and smartphones dropped from 50% in the third quarter to 30% in the fourth quarter. In Europe alone, smartphone sales only grew at 16% in the third quarter, because consumers prefer cheaper phones.

Even mobile software vendors agreed that: Need to change. "Wireless networks understand their future lies in the data. But the way to deploy it needs to be different. It is the price that determines success or failure," said Pieter Knook, vice president of the department. Mobile and embedded devices from Microsoft said.

" The situation in Europe and North America will have to change, where the rate of subscriber growth has been flat all the time ," said Nigel Clifford, Symbian CEO, which provides software for 70% of smartphones. sold in 2006 broke the schedule.

The mantra "Tariff"

"Tariff, tariff is all that networks and consumers are interested in ."

Revenue from Internet access and other wireless data services currently accounts for only 5-6% of mobile network revenue. If you want this revenue channel to compensate for conversational revenue (already saturated), it needs to grow faster and more strongly.

" If you want to move on to the next phase of mobile communications, you need to meet the following four factors: good equipment, 3G network, the attraction of services and brands and a predictable tariff, acceptable. "Mr. Clifford analyzed. " Especially in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the fourth factor is extremely important ."

Clearly, the carriers and the Internet are keen to work with mobile phone manufacturers, and they all depend on an easy, cheap wireless service to "make money."

Microsoft said it will promote a new idea: using prepaid data cards, similar to current prepaid calling cards. "We believe the opportunity is huge and Microsoft is trying to realize that opportunity with mobile networks," Mr Knook said.

Trong Cam