Mobiles are an imperative part of today's busy life style. Surpassing their conventional role of making voice calls, they have moved beyond what a normal user can think of.
As technology is fast pacing, so are the services linked to mobile phones. You think of clicking pictures, making a video conference or being on connectivity round the clock - mobiles can help you in all this. Some features are so integrated that even low end phones are coming packed with those.
More services namely "Value Added Services" (VAS) is what users now ask from the service providers. They look for the handsets that speak of style, performance yet a masterpiece in innovation. Where touchscreen is the innovative feature, being connected for instance on Twitter is what a user really look upto in its cellphone. In fact, price tag is a looked down criteria nowadays, while evaluating a mobile phone with high tech features in it for purchase.
Amid many options at user's disposal, the surging expectations are keeping the developers at their toes to come up with more innovations. VAS keeps the users hooked and loyal to a brand else they have a huge spectrum to choose from.
Mobile Value-added service (MVAS)
MVAS are services that offer differentiation and provide revenue to the mobile operators. It includes non-voice advanced messaging services such as SMS, MMS, MIM (Mobile Instant Messaging) and UM (Unified Messaging). It also includes wireless data services based on wireless data bearer technologies such as WLAN, GPRS, 1xRTT, WAP with VAS applications including mobile gaming and PTT (Push-to-talk).
The MVAS can help us in conducting a conference in various ways like:
1. Recording: You can record the entire conference and a CD can be provided within 48 hours by the vendor at your doorstep. Now, all the participants, who missed the conference, can listen later on.
2. Transcription: Further, the recorded conference could be provided in a word format to the user.
3. Co-ordination: You can also take help of professionally skilled conference coordinators for smooth management of your conference.
4. Question and Answer Session: Complete Q & A sessions could be organized with the participants across the globe.
The Role of VAS in India
At present, mobile operators are facing stiff competitions as the call rates in India are one of the cheapest in the world. But, its not just operator's efforts which is driving the growth of VAS, there are some other factors contributing to it. For example, initiation of 3G services in India, growing popularity of various social networking sites on new Smartphones and MIDs, and location based services on the move.
In a recent report, the mobile value-added service is estimated to grow to reach over Rs. 16500 crores by 2010. Besides, normal communication tools, operators are looking on the sector for more profits and revenues.
The future of VAS in India
In India, VAS will see a lot of structural changes, consolidation and emergence of cutting edge services in near future. Web browsing will become more common and various leading companies in the internet content space especially configure their sites for access through mobiles and the mobile companies are also encashing the opportunity by delivering more and more Smartphone in the market.
