REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 22, 2007 — Funambol, the mobile open source company, today issued a report based on its recent survey of 500 people and their attitudes toward mobile email. The free report, entitled “Beyond Blackberry and Windows Mobile: What Mass Market Consumers Want in Mobile Email,” can be requested at www.funambol.com/solutions/requestpublication.php and will be distributed at Funambol booth # 1177 at CTIA next week.
Previous studies have reported that consumers want mobile email but are not willing to pay much for it. Funambol’s survey found that consumers indeed want mobile email, and that the majority are willing to pay for it, on average about $5 per month. Furthermore, many will be making the move to adopt it within the year. Consumers also indicated that they are looking for mobile email that is easy-to-use and that seamlessly interoperates with their web and PC email systems.
“The market potential for consumer mobile email is tremendous and far exceeds the enterprise market,” said Fabrizio Capobianco, CEO of Funambol. “The results of this survey put urgency on what many already know: carriers can tap into the vast profit potential of delivering mobile email to the masses but they need to act. Consumers want easy-to use mobile email, on the devices they already use, at a reasonable cost. Operators must quickly settle on a strategy to address this lucrative market.”
In its online survey of 500 people, which took place in mid-March, 2007, Funambol analyzed and compared the expectations and requirements of mobile email users versus non-users. Included in this analysis was a look at how important specific capabilities were to both groups and how much consumers were willing pay for mobile email. Key findings from the report include:
“This survey provides major insight into the motivation of early and future adopters of mobile email,” said Hal Steger, Funambol VP Marketing. “It shows that a ‘one size fits all’ approach won’t satisfy the needs of masses. Operators will need to cater to multiple needs and consider flexible, low-cost strategies to unlock the potential of this market.”
Funambol is the mobile open source company and is the leading provider of open source push email and PIM for consumers. Funambol is supported by a global network of users and developers representing more than 1,000,000 downloads and 10,000 contributors in more than 200 countries. The commercial version of Funambol’s software has been deployed at wireless operators, Fortune 100 enterprises, hardware OEMs/ODMs and ISVs including customers such as Computer Associates. Funambol is headquartered in Redwood City, California with a development center in Italy. See www.funambol.com.
Jennifer Cloer
Page One PR
(503) 746-7577
Jennifer@pageonepr.com
Funambol is a trademark of Funambol, Inc. Other company and product names may be the trademarks of their respective companies.
