Mobile Wholesale: Strategies for mobile operators, MVNOs and messaging service providers

SUMMARY

As operators worldwide try and overcome the debt burdens incurred by the costof 3G licences and network rollout, a new, profitable revenue stream is emerging:mobile wholesale, providing profitable new opportunities for all companies inthe mobile sector.

Mobile Wholesale: Strategies for mobile operators, MVNOs and messaging serviceproviders briefing supplies you with a clear insight into the current status ofthis emerging market.

Based on first hand interviews with operators, content providers and MVNOs- including Abbla Mobile, Digital Bridges, mm02 and Virgin Mobile - this MobileCommunications executive briefing analyses in detail the existing state of themarket and delves into the opportunities and risks presented by the wholesalesector.

As wholesale becomes an important part of operators' strategies across themarket, Mobile Wholesale analyses inter-operator partnerships, as well as therelationships between operators and content providers, which will form a significantpart of the 2.5G and 3G world.

Mobile Wholesale answers these key questions:

• What are analysts' opinions on the future of MVNOs in the 3G world?
• Will the MVNE be a sustainable business model?
• What revenue model has Virgin Mobile adopted with its content partners andwhy does it consider it successful?
• What are T-Mobile's opinions on the importance of the wholesale sector andwhat is its wholesale strategy?
• What affect will the introduction of SMS termination fees have on the SMSmarket? If regulated, how will this be achieved?

Mobile Wholesale will enable YOU to:

Assess operators' and content providers' strategies and their real thoughtson wholesale, enabling you to gain a complete picture of the market
Understand the new opportunities provided by wholesale, as well as therisks involved, enabling you to take accurate investment decisions
Evaluate operators' attitudes towards MVNOs, and assess whether the 3Gspace will present further opportunities for the business
Learn of the different types of revenues models currently in use betweenoperators and content providers, their pros and cons and likely development ofthis area, and identify the one best suited for your business
Gain a clear insight into the different types of pricing and billing modelsavailable, the problems they present and analyse possible solutions

Reserve your copy of this report to gain a clear picture of the real factssurrounding wholesale, the new business models associated with it and risks involved,and access all the information you need to take advantage of emerging opportunitiesbefore your competitors!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive summary

Chapter 1 - an introduction to mobile wholesale

1.1 Mobile wholesale is evolving...

1.2 But is still a young market 1.3 Comparisons with the fixed wholesale sector

1.4 The next stage - fragmentation or consolidation

Chapter 2 - attempting to define mobile wholesale

Chapter 3 - industry attitudes to wholesale

Chapter 4 - MVNOs, ESPs and resellers: the first phase of wholesale evolution

4.1 The MVNO question

4.2 Regulatory issues

4.2.1 MVNO regulation in selected European markets

4.2.2 MVNO regulation in selected Asian markets

4.2.3 Should there be regulation?

4.3 The pros and cons of the MVNO - partnership or cannibalisation?

4.4 SingTel Optus - an ambassador for wholesale

4.5 Virgin Mobile - the MVNO/ESPas subsidiary/partner

4.6 Segmentation

4.7 Pricing issues

4.8 Existing and potentialdevelopments in the inter-operator wholesale sector

4.8.1 Opportunities for MVNOs in a 2.5G and 3G world

4.8.2 Infrastructure sharing in 3G

4.8.3 Mobile virtual network enablers (MVNEs)

Chapter 5 - data: the second phase of wholesale evolution

5.1 Messaging - driving the mobile wholesale sector

5.2 Wholesale SMS relationships

5.2.1 Network operator/MVNO and content provider

5.2.2 Portals 5.2.2.1 Lycos

5.2.2.2 T-Mobile Online

5.2.2.3 Vizzavi

5.2.2.4 Boltblue

5.2.2.5 Genie

5.2.3 SMS facilitators

5.2.3.1 Infospace

5.2.3.2 mBlox

5.2.3.3 MobileWay

5.2.3.4 Telitas

5.2.3.5 End2End

5.2.4 Mobile community provider: Freever

5.3 Factors affecting the wholesale SMS market

5.3.1 Inter-network content provision

5.3.2 SMS interconnection fees

5.3.2.1 Market reactions to the introduction of SMS interconnection fees

5.3.3 How to drive the wholesale market forward

5.3.4 The next evolutionary stage: the future of the mobile wholesale sector?

5.3.4.1 Revenue recognition

Chapter 6 - challenges for the mobile wholesale sectors

6.1 Industry attitudes to content relationships

6.1.1 Is I-mode the ideal revenue model?

6.1.2 The Mobile Entertainment Forum

6.2 Pricing mobile content

6.3 Billing

6.3.1 Reverse billing

6.3.2 M-pay

6.3.3 Premium rate interactive voice response

6.3.4 Billing requirements for next-generation services

6.3.4.1 Real-time billing

6.3.4.2 The m-wallet

6.4 Corporate structure

6.5 To subsidise or not to subsidise?

6.6 Regulatory issues