Ringback tones to lead mobile content growth

Ringback tones - music heard when you're waiting for someone to answer their mobile phone - are likely to become the most attractive mobile content category within the next four years, according to research from MultiMedia Intelligence. It says worldwide revenue for ringback tones will nearly triple to $4.7 billion (£2.5 billion) by 2012, with ringback tone revenue coming a close second to mobile gaming revenue. (The mobile premium content figures don't include mobile video and mobile TV). Total revenue is expected to reach $29 billion by 2012. The company says ringback tones are largely unaffected by Digital Rights Management or piracy, unlike conventional ringtones. [Press release]

Girls want mobiles sooner than boys

Here's one of those "obvious when you think about it" pieces of research. Teenage girls want mobiles earlier than teenage boys, according to a survey in the USA by MultiMedia Intelligence. Although there's little difference in mobile phone ownership at the age of 13, there's a large gap between the genders by 17. In 2007, 91% of 17-year-old American girls had mobiles but only 78% of 17-year-old boys had them. Generally, mobile ownership by teenage girls increases with age, while usage by boys jumps at ages 13 and 16. [Press release]

US Teen Market reaching saturation

Analysists at MultiMedia Intelligence say the market for 12 to 17-year-old mobile phone customers in the USA is reaching saturation. It exceeded 16 million last year, up 12% from 2006. However it's only expected to reach 17 million by 2012.

Over half a billion music mobiles shipped in 2007

Researchers at MultiMedia Intelligence say almost 300 million more music phones were sold last year than stand-alone personal music players. Worldwide music phone shipments exceeded 500 million units in 2007. They also report that the global mobile music content market of ringtones, ringback tones, streaming audio and full-track downloads) will hit $6 billion this year. By 2011, they estimate that half of all mobile phones will be music phones, which they define as having a memory expansion slot and the ability to play music. [Sources: News.com, Cellular-News.com]