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A new survey from ARC Group reveals that the most divisive issue facing the WAP industry is what will be the most common business model for mobile content provision.

While 55% of the respondents felt that content is most likely to be paid for directly by end users, 43% felt it will be available free to users. Highlighting this difference of opinion, the survey shows that although the single most popular model chosen was free content provision, driven by sponsorship, it was chosen by just 19% of respondents. The next most popular option was a per transaction charge to users, chosen by 16%, but this was followed by both an advertising driven model and flat fee access to all services, chosen by 15%.

The division was also reflected among different industry sectors. Whereas most Operators thought that a transaction charge would be the most common model, Content and Application developers favoured a free model driven by sponsorship.

Steven Hartley of the ARC Group commented: "This survey clearly shows that the WAP industry is divided over the best way to provide content. If similar content is available to subscribers for free or a charge, quality of content and service will have to become paramount."

This is just one of the many findings from ARC Group's WAP 2000 Industry Survey. The WAP 2000 Industry Survey Report provides over 100 pages of primary data, charts and quantitative analysis and a unique insight into the views and opinions of 300 key WAP professionals.

The report gives a detailed strategic insight into the WAP industry over the next few years on a number of different issues including:

Factors influencing customer take up of WAP
Almost 40% of respondents felt that applications will have the greatest influence on customers taking up WAP. Handset availability and cost were considered the next most important.

The most profitable data services
When asked which 2 data services will generate the most revenues by the end of 2000, over 50% of respondents chose e-mail and Information services. When asked which specific Information services, 50% felt it would be either personalised news or financial information. In 2003, E-commerce and entertainment services are expected to be the biggest generators of mobile data revenues, with ticketing the leading e-commerce service.

Security and improved user interface at the top of the list for future versions of WAP
Almost equal numbers of respondents wanted to see greater end-to-end security (39%) and improvements to the user interface (41%) as the most desired features for future releases of WAP.

The WAP 2000 Industry Survey Report is available directly through www.the-arc-group.com

For more information contact:

	Steven Hartely
	Phone: +44 (0)1483 268826

Relevant Market Sectors:
IT and Telecommunications