Mobile social media 'offers potential for advertisers'

3rd September 2008

A new report has predicted that advertising opportunities in the mobile social networking market will grow as the medium's user base continues to expand over the next five years.

According to ABI Research, over 140 million mobile users will log on to social networks through their handsets by 2013, generating subscription revenues of $410 million (£231.2 million).

This will offer significant potential for advertisers looking to target this market, although the exact extent of the opportunities available is unclear due to the fact that an established ad model for mobile social media has not yet been created, Michael Wolf of ABI Research stated.

"The advertising isn't that sophisticated yet. Social networking applications have to be uniquely mobile and not reliant entirely on advertising-based revenues, at least not initially," he commented.

Facebook recently celebrated passing the 100 million mark in terms of active unique users.