Will mobile music significantly increase operator mobile data ARPS? In the hopes of replicating the success of online music download services, the mobile industry sees Full Track Downloads (FTDs) as a promising strategy to grow revenues by increasing mobile data usage and reducing churn. Ultimately, the success of mobile music will rest heavily on the value it presents to all its stakeholders. Pyramid Research's new report "Get on Track With Mobile Music: Exploring Mobile Music Best Practices" analyzes two successful mobile music business models - SK Telecom's 'MelOn' and KDDI's 'Chaku-Uta Full' - and provides strategic advice for operators to maximize the opportunity. By analyzing KDDI's and SK Telecom's success, this report charts the evolutionary path of mobile music services through an examination of business models, enabling technologies, stakeholders, and global developments. Full Track Downloads will be popular and - if managed correctly - profitable for providers.
The global smartphone market closed 2025 with a story less about recovery and more about transformation. Premium product, ecosystem lock-in, and manufacturing scale are now the forces shaping competition. For business and technology leaders, the latest IDC market study data confirms that smartphones remain a critical indicator of consumer demand, supply chain health, and AI commercialization at the edge. Smartphone Market Development Global smartphone shipments grew 2.3 percent year-over-year in Q4 2025, reaching 336.3 million units and bringing full-year volumes to 1.26 billion units — a modest 1.9 percent annual increase, according to IDC. This smartphone growth emerged despite a memory shortage crisis, tariff volatility, supply chain disruption, and macroeconomic headwinds. What stabilized demand? Two factors: sustained growth in premium devices and strong foldable momentum, combined with accelerated purchases as consumers bought ahead of anticipated price increases. Buyers weren...