Mobile music Elina Vartiainen T Research Seminar on Telecommunications Business II Spring 2005
Agenda Introduction Technical background Business models Pre-conditions Value chain participants Potential revenue sources Business model scenarios Case: Vodafone Live! Conclusions
Introduction Developing into a big business opportunity in different corners of the world Variety of products and services available Networks are speeding up
Technical background Two audio format concepts: natural and synthetic audio
Technical background File formats for natural mobile audio
Technical background Mobile audio formats for different services
Technical background Formats for synthetic mobile audio
Technical background Different connections
Business models Pre-conditions: Consumers are accustomed to mobile music Music consumers and wireless pioneers are congruent Little input functionality for linear content is required Formats and rendering devices are already available Audio content is digitally available as compared to books and graphics
Business models Value chain participants: Content owners Aggregators Carriers Handset manufacturers Consumers
Business models Potential revenue sources Airtime sharing Promotions and sponsorship Transaction-oriented revenues Content aggregation and subsription Levies and taxation on devices or bandwidth
Business models Scenarios:
Business models First scenario: Free peer-to-peer distribution
Business models Second scenario: Music service provider
Business models Third scenario: Subscription models
Business models Fourth scenario: Superdistribution
Case: Vodafone Live! 3G music download service Launched in November 2004 with music tracks in 13 markets Tracks in AAC format Cost of downloading a full track around €1.5 depending on the country, also monthly packages Content protected by DRM
Conclusions Compatibility must be ensured to enable the success of mobile music 3G and especially WLAN offer fast connections in the future Most preferable revenue source for mobile music are generated from transactions With DRM: subscription plans and superdistribution Without DRM: promotions, sponsorships and license of mobile music services