News

Survey finds quick MMS adoption

• By Michael W. Bucken
• September 23, 2002

The Multimedia Messaging System (MMS) wireless format driven by Nokia and supported by several top communications firms has quickly captured the attention of wireless developers worldwide, according to a survey of 1,000 developers by Evans Data Corp., Santa Cruz, Calif.

The survey, conducted last month, found that 23% of developers are or will be incorporating MMS, which was first proposed by Nokia as a wireless communications standard format about 18 months ago, in projects in the coming year. Evans analysts noted that a separate survey of developers in China found that almost 30% of developers in that country will be utilizing MMS by year-end. Evans data analyst Brian Cooper said the firm undertook the separate Chinese survey due to ''explosive growth'' in wireless development in that country.

Though the wireless revolution predicted by many analysts in the late 1990s failed to materialize, the Evans Data survey said the technology continues to attract at least some interest among IT managers throughout the world.

The survey also found that most wireless development projects -- two-thirds worldwide -- continue to target Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) technologies as platforms for new applications. And, Evans data analysts noted, e-mail applications continue to dwarf other wireless applications under development today, though consumer e-commerce and authentication show signs of growth.