U.S. Consumer Location-Based Services 2008-2012 Forecast: Continuing to Transform the Mobile Services and Mobile Internet Experience

This IDC study examines the current and future state of the U.S. consumer location-based services (LBS) space. Mobile location-based services are one of the most rapidly evolving areas in the mobile consumer space, with consumers discovering high-value utility in mapping, navigation, search, and family and friend locators. In addition, leading-edge devices such as the Apple iPhone and its Apps Store are enabling mobile consumers to discover and use mobile LBS applications in new ways, driving further innovation and investment in mobile LBS.

"Mobile LBS applications will be one of the key innovation drivers of the mobile Internet and mobile services in the coming decade, driven in part by emerging competition among mobile ecosystems including Android, Apple, BlackBerry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile," says Scott Ellison, vice president of Mobile and Wireless. "The increasing pervasiveness of GPS, 3G/4G mobile broadband networks, and increasingly sophisticated mobile devices will together contribute to exceptionally strong mobile LBS growth over the next few years, with growth likely to accelerate from mid-decade onward as new categories of LBS and location-enabled applications emerge."