“Mobile” is today’s buzzword

“Mobile” is today’s buzzword. The global cellular subscribers have reached
to 2.5 billons with a growth of 32% in the year 2005. The cellular market is
expected to add an average of 450 millions new subscribers each year
resulting in a total population of more than 3 billion by 2007. In India,
cellular service is the fastest growing industry, having a subscriber base of
more than 100 millions in the last quarter of 2006. The cellular market in
India is expected to grow at a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of
39.8% until 2007.
“Mobile” meant for voice communication. But with the change of times the
utility of the device is gradually changing. Besides voice communication,
today “Mobile” is rapidly used as a medium of data-communication. The
industry has realised that it is difficult to sustain long, only through offering
of conventional voice based applications. Non-voice based applications like
SMS, MMS, Browsing etc are the future of cellular service and it will
contribute significant revenue to the cellular business. GARTNER projection
reflects that “Mobile” data service will account for 20.5% of total Indian
Cellular Service Revenues in 2008, which equivalent to Rs. 147.6 billion. In
2003 data service accounted 5.4% of cellular service while in 2006 it is 12%
registering a growth of 80% last year (2006).
Responding to that changed scenario, device manufacturers and network
operators have made revolutionary changes in “Mobile” handset as well as
communication technology. This advancement of wireless technology has
opened up various avenues to benefit other quarters of industry like healthcare,
tourism etc, which have maximum people’s participation. Intelligent
and powerful application in those spheres will surely create symbiotic
relation in users, cellular industry and allied industries.
Tourism industry is, within India, one of the largest economic sectors and
maximum people’s participation. An average of 365 millions of domestic
tourists traveled within India in each & every year.