The worldwide market for mobile and professional services will grow
at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58.5% to be worth
$30.4bn (£19.6bn) by 2006, according to estimates released by
research firm IDC.
IDC defines this market as consulting, implementation, operations,
support and training services activities performed when extending
mobile or wireless access to enterprise applications on new or
existing infrastructure.
The market was worth around $3bn (£1.9bn) in 2001, more than double
its value in 2000, IDC said.
Europe, the Middle East and Africa is the largest market, following
the early adoption by Nordic countries of wireless technologies,
with carriers depending on the advice of professional services
firms to launch successful operations.
North and South America are the fastest growing services markets,
expected to maintain a CAGR of 73% between now and 2006, when the
market will be worth $13.3bn (£8.6bn), or 43.7% of the global
market, IDC said.
The Asia-Pacific region is close far behind, with Japan and
Australia being the largest spenders, according to IDC estimates.
In Japan, mobile services will be required in consumer areas such
as banking, retailing and sports, but a bigger opportunity exists
in the enterprise segment as companies explore new mobile commerce
initiatives, IDC said.
Security services will be a fast-growing niche market within the
mobile services market. Worth $75m (£48m) worldwide in 2000, the
market will grow at a CAGR of 69% to be worth $1bn (£640m) by 2006,
according to IDC.