Value Proposition of Mobile Instant Messaging

The popularity of instant messaging (IM) has escalated dramatically in recent years. This service is becoming more prolific not merely due to the convenience of the instant communication it offers, but the increased deployment of broadband has led to a rise in the availability of movies, music ,and other media for download. The use of IM on the move enables location-based services by making use of the current position of a user. To further add value to the use of mobile IM (MIM), the deployment of bots as interactive agents that respond to IM requests appeal to users. This paper evaluates the market potential of IM and bots as the next big thing in messaging on the move. The paper also looks into user segmentation and target markets, competitors in the field, factors spurring the growth of MIM and discusses a number of usage scenarios.