June 5, 2008
For the past three years mobile marketing has remained one of the most dynamic opportunity in the mobile internet value chain. Not a week goes by without another research report predicting billions of dollars in future revenue from mobile ads or results from a poll showing growing interest and acceptance in the budding business model. Today one of the most influential champions of the mobile marketing cause, Laura Marriott, has stepped down from her role as president of the Mobile Marketing Association after serving the industry in that role since 2005.
Marriott has organized conferences focused on mobile marketing under the Mobile Marketing Forum brand, penned countless articles for industry publications like RCR Wireless News, ClickZ and FierceWireless and served as an industry expert for other consumer publications. Under Marriott's guidance, the MMA has increased its membership base to include offices Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America and Latin America.
While the mobile marketing sector has lost one of its most influential proponents, Marriott's reasons for stepping down remain unclear. Be all indications Marriott is set to take up her own entrepeneurial venture, which very well may be a mobile marketing start-up.
Another signal of mobile marketing's growth: Nokia just added ads to its MOSH portal. Caroline Gabriel breaks down the ongoing battle between Nokia and Qualcomm for the mobile internet services market in this week's Mobile Internet Watch.
In our last poll, we asked which social network would dominate the mobile social networking space in the years to come: 64 percent of our readers dubbed Facebook the once and future king, while about 6 percent predicted LinkedIn would overtake its rivals once the mobile platform develops further. The remaining votes went to "Other" indicating a hope for new entrants into the space. This week's poll: How would you characterize the market for mobile marketing? Still in its earliest stages with early adopters; in its toddler years with some bigger brands giving it a try; in its teenage years but not yet a proven market; or mature enough for all brands to make a go of it?
