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‘The mobile VAS game is about to change and only the agile will survive’
The year 2008 holds great promise for the MVAS industry in India. Two key focus areas of this year will be the launch of 3G and the Advent of Mobile Advertising in the country.
The much anticipated 3G will bring with it the stage, set for the entry of Mobile Advertising, creating a flawless marketing medium that allows you to reach consumers in a way that genuinely interests them.
Upcoming in 2008
The Industry is awaiting its share of changes that will come its way in the year ahead. 2008 will witness trends that are bound to change the entire MVAS game, offering opportunities that will need to be capitalized on. In times like these, only players with the ability to scale, who have established and consolidated their stronghold in the industry will be able to survive and thrive in this highly competitive and burgeoning MVAS space.
The introduction of 3G technology will see services like Video Streaming, Video Caller Ringback Tones (CRBTs) and Wireless Teleconferencing gaining popularity.
Increased data connectivity will increase the consumption of content on mobile, expanding the market enough for the content companies to reach out to the customers on their own, if the risk of disintermediation can be worked out.
| Increased data connectivity will increase the consumption of content on mobile _____****_____ |
The beginning of this transformation is already evident in the deals being made by companies like People Infocom (Mauj Mobile). The company is counted amongst India’s leading MVAS providers and has inked deals that substantiate its expertise as an end-to-end Mobile Solutions Company. Their recent undertakings include, associations with Eros studios to repurpose film content for the mobile, and managing ESPN’s direct-to-consumer wireless portal on a managed services model.
Mobile Advertising is another area that will see a promising year ahead. While the current scenario for Mobile Advertising in the country lacks a much needed push, interesting concepts like AdverGaming are fast gaining significance. People Infocom has worked on games for MTV UK and Sony Ericsson on the same lines.
The Future for Mobile Music
Mobile Music is a part of the Mobile Entertainment Industry. Entertainment and Telecommunications are the two important industries that converge to form this burgeoning sector. Each of these worlds in India are at present faced with immense opportunity, and that translates into an even bigger prospect for the Mobile Music space in particular.
The mobile music market in India is at present valued at approximately Rs 1650 crore and is growing at an estimated CAGR of 40-50%.
Fuelling this growth rate, are the opportunities presented by the sheer size of the Indian market and the colossal Indian music and film industry itself. The introduction of 3G technology later this year will only facilitate a better way to reach a mass-market audience in a country of more than one billion inhabitants.
Better accessibility and a penetration rate of around 18% has helped Mobile Music surpass Online Music sales in India. Online Music makes up less than 5% of the digital market in India, while Mobile music covers the rest.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
