Do you remember your first cell phone? Do you remember when the main purpose of the phone was to communicate with others? I do, and, compared to the phones available today and the services they offer, mine was an antique.

Cell phone usage is increasing, and people are expecting more out of them. People want to be able to communicate and get information at any time and anywhere. Businesses realize this and are planning accordingly. At first, almost all content and information provided by mobile devices was free. Then, the trend shifted to fee-based mobile applications. The Yankee Group estimates that U.S. paid-smartphone application revenues will reach $4.2 billion by 2013.*

The new model that businesses are turning to offers a combination of both. The realization is setting in that although there is a market for fee-based applications, people will always prefer something that is free. Providing options helps the consumer gain confidence and trust your business. If there is one thing that I can relate to, it is that diversification tends to be the most effective course of action.

U.S. Mobile Internet Users

*Yankee Group, “Forecasting the U.S. Mobile App Gold Rush,”  September 22, 2009.