Location-Based Mobile Social Networking

Market Development, Revenue Opportunities, Applications, and Key Industry Players

The recent emergence of location-based mobile social networking services offered by providers such as GyPSii, Pelago and Loopt is revolutionizing social networking allowing users to share real-life experiences via geo-tagged user-generated multimedia content, see where their friends are and meet up with them. This new technology-enabled social geo-lifestyle will drive the uptake of Location Based Services and provide opportunities for location-based advertising in the future. This study describes product features, trends, barriers, drivers, and the overall location-based social networking ecosystem including detailed descriptions of solutions and market players. Special focus is given to business models. It also provides recommendations to all major players and shipment and revenue forecasts per region and per location-based social networking type.

What Questions Does This Report Answer?

  • What are the main trends in location-based mobile social networking?
  • What are the main features of location-based mobile social networking sites?
  • What are the main types of location-based mobile social networking?
  • Who are the principal players?
  • Which business models will be adopted?
  • What are the most important drivers and barriers for location-based mobile social networking?
  • How will location-based mobile networking evolve compared with mobile and fixed social networking?
  • Which new geo-based file formats and communication methods will be used?
  • Which positioning technologies and location sharing techniques will be used?
  • What will the role of the major Internet, handset manufacturer, carrier, and navigation brands be?

Who Needs This Report?

  • Location-based mobile social network providers
  • Advertisers
  • Cellular carriers
  • Handset manufacturers
  • Navigation hardware vendors
  • Navigation software vendors
  • Telematics service providers
  • Car manufacturers
  • Outdoor GPS device and software vendors
  • Outdoor GPS software vendors

Table of Contents


Section 1.
Executive Summary
1.1. Trends, Drivers, Issues, and Barriers
1.2. Forecasts
1.3. Conclusions

Section 2.
Recommendations
2.1. Recommendations to Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Vendors
2.2. Recommendations to Handsets Manufacturers
2.3. Recommendations to Cellular Carriers
2.4. Recommendations to Navigation and Telematics Vendors
2.5. Recommendations to Outdoor GPS Players

Section 3.
Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Explained
3.1. Definition and Components
3.1.1. Persons
3.1.2. Places
3.1.3. Persons and Places
3.1.4. Local Event Content
3.1.5. Filtered and Dynamic Content Sharing
3.1.6. Location-Based Search and Advertising
3.1.7. Location, Status, and Presence Information
3.1.8. Summary
3.2. Location Information Capture and Exchange Methods
3.2.1. Manual Location Capture and Exchange
3.2.2. Automatic Location Capture and Manual Exchange
3.2.3. Automatic Location Capture and Exchange
3.3. Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Device and Development Platforms
3.3.1. J2ME
3.3.2. Native Mobile Clients
3.3.3. Embedded Platforms
3.3.4. Laptops and Desktops
3.4. Location-Based Social Networking Communication Technologies
3.4.1. Off-line Access
3.4.2. Online Access
3.4.3. Instant Messaging
3.4.4. SMS
3.4.5. Geo-Feeds and KML

Section 4.
Key Industry Players and Markets
4.1. Overview
4.2. Person Finders
4.2.1. Whereboutz (TeleNav)
4.2.2. BrightKite
4.2.3. Networks in Motion (NIM)
4.2.4. Buddy Beacon (uLocate)
4.2.5. MyLoki (Skyhook)
4.2.6. Nanomatic
4.2.7. FindMe (Electric Pocket)
4.2.8. Loopt / Verizon Wireless
4.2.9. Plazes (Nokia)
4.2.10. Nokia Chat
4.3. Information Exchange
4.3.1. GyPSii (GeoSentric)
4.3.2. Whrrl (Pelago)
4.4. Outdoors, Tourism, and Fitness
4.4.1. Nokia Sports Tracker
4.4.2. NavX
4.4.3. ViewRanger
4.4.4. Wayfinder
4.4.5. Eertha.com (DeLorme)
4.4.6. Geocaching.com (Groundspeak)
4.4.7. Backpacker.com
4.4.8. GPSed (SHAPE Services)
4.5. Navigation and Telematics
4.5.1. TomTom
4.5.2. Dash
4.5.3. TellMeWhere
4.5.4. Nissan Carwings
4.6. Other Players

Section 5.
Trends, Drivers, Barriers, and Business Models
5.1. Trends
5.1.1. Involvement of Major Players
5.1.2. Integration into Facebook
5.1.3. Multiplatform Compatibility
5.2. Drivers
5.2.1. Popularity of Real-Time Presence- and Location-Based Information
5.2.2. Cellular Carrier Support
5.2.3. Emergence of Connected Navigation Devices and Consumer Telematics
5.2.4. Availability of Location-Based Platforms and Open Development Environments
5.2.5. GPS-Based iPhone and Apple iStore
5.2.6. Viral Marketing Techniques
5.3. Barriers
5.3.1. Quality Issues with User-Generated Content
5.3.2. Privacy
5.3.3. Lack of GPS Handsets
5.3.4. Availability and Cost of Data Plans
5.3.5. Brand Awareness
5.3.6. Limitations of GPS Technology for Indoor Coverage
5.3.7. Uncertain Business Models
5.4. Business Models
5.4.1. Subscription-Based Models
5.4.2. Advertising-Based Models
5.4.3. Licensing-Based Models
5.4.4. Revenue-Sharing Models

Section 6.
Market Forecasts
6.1. Forecast Methodology, Definitions, and Assumptions
6.1.1. Forecast Methodology
6.1.1.1. General Methodology
6.1.1.2. Step-by-Step Methodology
6.1.2. Definitions
6.1.3. Forecast Assumptions
6.2. North America
6.3. Europe
6.4. Asia-Pacific
6.5. Rest of the World

Section 7.
Company Directory

Section 8.
Acronyms
Scope of Study
Sources and Methodology
Notes



Tables
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Region, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Region, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Hardware Form Factor, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Comparison Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Sites, World Markets: 2008
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, North America, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, North America, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, North America, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Europe, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Europe, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, Europe, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Asia-Pacific, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Asia-Pacific, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, Asia-Pacific, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, RoW, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, RoW, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, RoW, Forecast: 2006 to 2013

Charts
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Hardware Form Factor, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Region, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Region, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Hardware Form Factor, World Markets: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscribers by Type, North America, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, North America, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, North America, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Europe, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Europe, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, Europe, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Asia-Pacific, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, Asia-Pacific, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, Asia-Pacific, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, RoW, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Subscriptions by Type, RoW, Forecast: 2006 to 2013
  • Location-Based Mobile Social Networking Revenues by Type, RoW, Forecast: 2006 to 2013