Monday, February 10, 2003		Feature

Picture messaging round the corner

EVER felt disheartened at being unable to send that fabulous picture to your grandmother back home, only because her mobile belonged to a different network? Do not lose heart as it might just be possible very shortly as picture messaging has moved a significant step closer to becoming a money-spinner for mobile phone companies following a technological breakthrough by MM02. Until now, uptake of a technology that could prove to be a lucrative source of revenue for the debt-laden phone operators has been limited since pictures could not be sent from one network to another.

However, according to a report in The Guardian, MM02 has reached agreements with T-Mobile and Orange that will allow its users to send images between all three networks. T-Mobile and Orange have yet to reach agreement on their own interconnecting but expect to do so soon. Vodafone is expected to enter the frame shortly.

Analysts say that picture messaging will become a far more attractive consumer proposition once users know they can send photos to friends, regardless of which network they use. The breakthrough has happened several months before many in the industry had predicted.

Around 1.5 billon text messages are sent each month in the UK but picture messaging remains in its infancy. Phones have only just been launched and remain more expensive than traditional handsets, often retailing for around 200 pounds.

Only one in 20 customers say they plan to buy a camera phone in the next six months. But better connectivity combined with falling prices is expected to increase that rate.

Mobile phone companies have spent millions on picture messaging campaigns, with Vodafone signing up England football captain David Beckham to front its ads.

The companies believe that picture messages - which cost more to send than text messages - will help them recoup some of the 22 billion pounds, they spent acquiring 3G licences nearly three years ago. (ANI)