Ofcom says mobile internet set to boom

Content providers take note, the Communications Regulator Ofcom’s latest report is predicting that the mobile internet is set to take off.

The annual UK Communications Market Report 2007 noted that despite the fact that non-SMS data income made up only 5% of mobile operators’ revenue in 2006, “there are indications that the mobile internet may finally begin to deliver on some of its promises in the near future”.

A key reason given was the rate of 3G take up, which rose to 7.8m connections by December last year. Another signpost is the growing number of internet-enabled handsets: the report records that 80% of handsets sold in the first quarter of last year had the XHTML capability required to make web pages legible on mobile phones.

The report also noted that most network operators are now offering unrestricted data tariffs for as little as £5 per month and finally that content providers are now offering a level of customer experience which is nearly on a par with what you’d expect from your home computer.

All in all it looks as though there’s never been a better time for organizations to launch their sites on the mobile internet.