OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 2, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- TMNG Global (Nasdaq:TMNG), a leading provider of management consulting services to the communications, media and entertainment industries, today announces the release of a new three- to five-year outlook for the global wireless device and services markets. The study examines the macro industry trend toward openness and collaboration in wireless service delivery and identifies key implications for the high-end global handset market.
The outlook is based on a study conducted by CSMG and Bear Stearns' telecom analyst, Philip Cusick. It examines how the device is emerging as a key competitive battleground in wireless as the mobile market moves rapidly towards greater openness for consumers and increased collaboration between carriers, device vendors, application providers and other parties.
The study reveals that specialized devices will be increasingly important as new device-focused business models emerge targeting niche markets. While wireless networks are beginning to open, carriers will maintain effective control over most customers and the most successful third party approaches to mobile service delivery will involve collaboration with carriers, rather than go-it-alone approaches. Additionally, the future of handsets will be tied to the success of advanced wireless data services. Future success in mobile data will require cooperative models that create real value for customers by stimulating added spending or creating efficiencies in service delivery.
"The wireless device market is reaching a crucial turning point; the pendulum swung towards the convergence of handsets as multi-function tools in order to be all things to all people. Now the pendulum is beginning to swing back as consumers demand more specialized devices," said Rich Nespola, Chairman and CEO of TMNG Global. "Our new study provides our clients with timely insights into how best to take advantage of the new market opportunities with the opening of networks and increased collaboration amongst new wireless entrants and incumbent players."
"As carriers continue to control the customer relationship, they will also demand more specialized and exclusive handsets from the vendors," says Philip Cusick at Bear Stearns. "The challenge for vendors will be to find areas to cooperate with carriers on services and applications, while also making it more intuitive for customers to access those applications."
Among CSMG's recommended corporate initiatives:
For wireless service providers:
-- Take segmentation to the next level through the use of
specialized devices
-- Improve the economics of advanced data service delivery by
identifying partnerships to drive ARPU and improve marketing
efficiency
-- Formulate a comprehensive strategy toward openness. Carriers need
to know where to retain control vs. partner vs. standardize
across device, operational support, applications, sales and
networks
For device vendors:
-- Develop a win-win partnership proposition for carriers
-- Determine the vendor role in optimizing wireless usability
including hardware, software and applications
-- Develop novel device types and business models for use with 4G
and WIMAX
For application and content providers:
-- Develop alternatives to over-the-top models in order to succeed
in wireless
-- Understand wireless value-capture for specific applications types
(i.e., messaging, location, music) in order to develop an optimal
go-to-market strategy: go-it-alone vs. partnership with carriers
vs. partnership with device or operational support vendors vs.
aggressive standardization
This study is based on a comprehensive review of industry context and recent developments, interviews with major device vendors, service providers, and selected additional value chain participants as well as strategic and quantitative analysis of emerging trends and their impact on the mobile service and device markets. As part of the context-setting research, CSMG and Philip Cusick performed an exhaustive review of high-end devices released by the top 5 OEMs in 2007. This includes an evaluation of handset portfolios and device strategies of each of the major mobile operators in these markets: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Japan, Korea, and the U.S. The review of wireless and device market developments reflects events occurring through early March 2008.
For an electronic copy of the complete report, visit http://www.tmng.com.
About TMNG Global
TMNG Global (Nasdaq:TMNG) is a leading provider of professional services to the converging communications industry. Its companies, TMNG, CSMG, Cartesian and TWG Consulting, and its base of over 500 consultants, have provided strategy, management, and technical consulting, as well as products and services, to more than 1,200 communications service providers, entertainment, media, and technology companies and financial services firms worldwide. The company is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, with offices in Boston, Chicago, London, New Jersey, New York, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, any statements that do not relate to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements, including any statements contained herein regarding expectations with respect to the Company's future business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those projected or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might affect actual results, performance, or achievements include, among other things, the ability of the Company to successfully integrate recent acquisitions, conditions in the industry sectors that the Company serves, overall economic and business conditions, the demand for the Company's services, the level of cash and non-cash expenditures incurred by the Company, technological advances and competitive factors in the markets in which the Company competes, and the factors described in TMNG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks described in "Risk Factors" under Item 1A in TMNG's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 and subsequent periodic reports containing updated disclosures of such risks. These filings are available at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. TMNG does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstances.