Multimedia mobiles aim to woo consumers

The mobile handset manufacturer has signed up Range Software and Eidos to develop mobile gaming for WAP phones. It has also launched a multimedia messaging product that enables users to send graphical, audio or video attachments with SMS messages, which could be used on both 2G and 3G networks.

However, if the products are to be successful, Anssi Vayuoki, executive VP of Nokia, warned operators have to learn from growth rates in SMS adoption.

He said: "It has to be affordable. If we can guarantee delivery, which users have come to expect from SMS and interoperability, it [multimedia messaging] will be a killer application."

Nokia isn't the only company to recognise the importance of consumer-led mobile data services. Both Ericsson and Logica have been demoing their multimedia messaging products at the 3GSM exhibition.

Ericsson today announced that its Bluetooth headset, cordless web screen and the R310 mobile phone are all being used by Lara Croft in the forthcoming Tomb Raider film.

Dr Michael Grant, principal consultant at Analysys, argued this concentration on consumer-led activity is essential to the success of the mobile internet.

He said: "For the business market there are still issues with data reliability. If you look at NTT DoCoMo [Japanese mobile operator] its success is largely down to its focus on the consumer market."

However, Lars Boman, president of internet applications at Ericsson, said that before multimedia messaging can be a real hit the ongoing issue over standards must be resolved.

"I think they will be resolved this spring but if they are not they could hold back the market," he added.