Mobile Ad Revs Will Rich $3.1 Billin in 2013, Says Kelsey Group

By Reporter Wireless and Mobile News on February 27, 2009 11:54 AM

U.S. mobile advertising revenues (search and display) will grow to $3.1 billion in 2013, from $160 million in 2008, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 81.2 percent, according to The Kelsey Group

During the same period, they forecass mobile local search advertising revenues will increase from $20 million to $1.3 billion, a CAGR of 130.5 percent.

The Kelsey Group's Mobile Local Media Forecast (2008-2013) is highlighted in the report "Going Mobile: The Mobile Local Media Opportunity," distributed to clients of the firm's new MLM advisory service. Additional findings covered in the report include:

The percentage of mobile searches that have local intent will increase from 28 percent in 2008 to 35 percent in 2013.

Currently there are 54.5 million mobile Internet users in the United States, representing 25 percent of online users.
Approximately 15 percent of iPhone applications are local.

"As mobile data consumption rises, we expect local marketing to be a big winner," said Michael Boland, program director, Mobile Local Media (MLM), The Kelsey Group. "There is a strong correlation between local search and the mobile use case, which will cause a good portion of the ongoing mobile application boom to focus on local."

"We've been covering the mobile local space for some time within our Interactive Local Media practice," said Neal Polachek, chief executive officer, The Kelsey Group. "The trend lines for usage, revenue and application development indicate a turning point that compels us to devote more resources and deepen our coverage of this market segment. Our MLM practice will focus on mobile as a critical and key driver in the overall transformation of the advertising industry."

"The most critical emerging media venue is mobile. Having Kelsey now able to provide insights into this arena coupled with their expanded view of the market will make them an even more important source for the industry going forward," said Scott W. Klein, CEO, Idearc Media.

Mobile Local Media Advisory Service

"Going Mobile: The Mobile Local Media Opportunity" is available to clients of Mobile Local Media, The Kelsey Group's new advisory service. MLM provides research and analysis of mobile content, delivery (bandwidth and access device), consumer usage and advertiser adoption of mobile platforms for local media companies, mobile carriers, handset developers, application developers, search engines, directory publishers, advertising agencies/ad buyers/recommenders, intermediaries/resellers, individual advertisers and mobile sector investors.