Mozat social networking platform
Source: http://www.mobileworld.com.my/technology/telcos/2449-mozat-social-networking-platform.html
The app market really moves at a blistering speed. It’s really hard to fathom how it would even look like in the next 2 years. MW talks to Michael Yin from Mozat to see what he feels will pan out in the next couple of years.
Michael Yin is the chief executive officer of Mozat; an award winning mobile service that enables integrated social networking, communication tools and multi player gaming on a single application running on Java, Symbian, Android and Windows Mobile operating systems.
“Researcher Ovum estimated that mobile app downloads will exceed 5 billion by the end of 2011. The mobile internet, which is fast moving towards a golden decade ahead (according to CICC Research on Mobile Internet), will only fuel growth in the apps arena,” says Yin.
This he believes will create a domino effect in terms of opportunity for mobile phone and device makers and the rest of the mobile ecosystem.
“Apps keep the usage of mobile devices addictive and sticky. As the mobile device becomes more and more integral to people’s daily lives, consumers expect and demand more from mobile applications and devices,” adds Yin. One of the apps categories would be gaming which he believes is the ultimate way to engage a new generation of audiences.
“As one of the top mobile internet trends in 2011, ‘gamification’ is the new gratification. Moving forward, app developers have to ensure that they create apps that exceed consumers’ expectations in use and function across multiple mobile operating systems,” explains Yin.
This of course is a tall order as consumers get more demanding and the hardware and software technology improves for mobile devices. This is a definite boon to mobile users but can present a nightmare for telco operators if they do not have the vision and the capability to keep up with rapid market demands and changes. According to Yin, carriers can easily get left behind if they are not ready with technologies that can enable users to engage in a meaningful and relevant way.
Mozat has experience in helping telcos in building localized and revenue generating mobile social communities. Through its social networking platform it has been able to provide telco operators the technology to unify, innovate and enable interaction among friends across different devices. In short, operators can attempt to get a slice of the social networking and messaging phenomenon that is currently dominated by companies like Facebook and Google
“The concept of ‘mobile social’ is on the rise and is clearly not a fad. It’s a phenomenon that our society is openly embracing. The digital landscape is opening up its social graph and the mobile phone is an important tool that allows consumers to connect to the social system,” says Yin.
Malaysia, Yin admits, is an important and interesting market for players like Mozat. “It is significant because it is close to Singapore geographically, socially and culturally. The market presents a huge opportunity and potential for telco operators, especially since there will be about 41.9 million mobile subscribers by 2013, according to the latest IEMR’s Mobile Operator Forecast,” Yin says.
In order to get a shot of getting a piece of the pie, content and apps have to suit the mobile market’s needs, including its delivery. Features justifiably have to be user friendly and their take up depends on handset availability.
Availability is but one issue – a good player needs to be able to address the different platforms. The ideal solution for a mobile operator is a cross platform mobile social solution, so that even a Java feature phone user can communicate, exchange files, play social games and update a friend, who uses a smartphone, seamlessly. Feature phones shouldn’t be ignored, they should present as a part of the mobile audience. The Mozat app essentially allows messaging, games and status updates on a single platform offered by operators and accessible on both feature and smartphones.
“There is definitely room for growth as mobile operators constantly look for ways to find new revenue streams by offering innovative services that capitalise on social media and mobile Internet trends. While mobile voice is expected to continue as operator’s main source of revenue, data revenues are expected to rise and ‘recurring revenues’ in mobile apps are being explored through innovative mobile services,” adds Yin.
Yin believes that Malaysia’s vibrant telecom sector makes the environment ripe for the introduction of new and quality mobile services that will keep the market interested, excited and engaged.
Mozat is coming in to deliver all these through a partnership with a local telco operator. Malaysian consumers will stand to benefit from next generation suite of mobile communications that include real time messaging with file transfer, multi-player mobile gaming and social sharing – mobile activities designed to enable users to interact not only with their online friends but with their phonebook contacts as well.