SMS will continue to maintain its lead as the highest revenue generator across all messaging categories, providing global service revenues of $177 billion in 2013. However, regional differences will determine the success of messaging expansion into the Web, advertising, and the incorporation of mobile messaging within social networking media according to a recent report by ABI Research.

For instance, developed regions of North America and Europe have the highest messaging ARPUs, and send the most messages from the computer to the mobile device using IM; Asia-Pacific subscribers’ sign up for the most SMS alert services; and Latin Americans are heavy SMS users, but prefer pay-as-you-go for all messaging services. Furthermore, these regional differences will cause established messaging suppliers to reevaluate their business models.

In a recent report entitled Mobile Messaging Services, ABI Research examines the messaging market across five common platforms: SMS, MMS, voicemail, IM, and e-mail/unified messaging. It details the drivers not only from the consumer and business end-user perspectives, but also from the key supply-side players, including device vendors, operators, and middleware providers. The report highlights developments and recent activity with mobile messaging services at the regional level and the ramifications for the future. Forecasts are offered for revenues, ARPU, customers, penetration, and usage for SMS and MMS services, along with e-mail and IM platforms. Distribution by type of delivery and payment method is also supplied for the data messaging services platforms.

It forms part of three ABI Research Services: Business Mobility, Consumer Mobility, and Mobile Content.

Principal analyst ABI Research Dan Shey says, “Innovative companies are exploring opportunities for expanding mobile messaging access to Web sites as well as targeting customers with content and ads. To be successful with these enhanced services, companies that supply mobile messaging products and services must understand the regional distributions for customer type, payment preferences, message delivery method, and usage. Device vendors and messaging platform suppliers serving the global market will have to manage across markets where growth is king – and other markets where product differentiation is king. This is a great time for smaller companies to develop new products and services individually and in partnerships to serve the niche needs of a region or country.”