Mobile devices, such as low-cost smartphones and small media tablets, will become the consumer platform of choice for accessing the internet and social networking sites in Latin America (LatAm).
In fact, if the mobile social network market continues to develop at the current rate, then the region can achieve 116.8 million mobile social network users by 2015, according to the latest market study by Pyramid Research.
Their recent report outlines the current state of mobile social networks in Latin America and the changes that Latin American mobile network operators and device manufacturers need to make -- in order to catch up with the developed world, where mobile social networking is increasing business opportunities.
This report discusses those changes and how much progress Latin American service providers have made thus far.
Latin America has an extremely high penetration of active social networking site users.
Currently, 96 percent of the online population accesses some social network in the region. The number of social network users is expected to grow to about 98 percent, or 229.1 million users in 2015.
"With strong adoption of social networks and a culture that highly values the ability to be connected to others, Latin America provides fertile ground for opportunities and growth in mobile social networking," said Vinicius Caetano, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research.
Besides, many of the conditions that are key to mobile subscribers getting the best use of their social network applications (apps) are already being met by network operators in numerous Latin American markets.
The recent deployment of 3G, new data plans offered by operators and the increasing popularity of smartphones are some important examples of ongoing market development in the region.
"The right evolution on these fronts will soon place Latin America among the largest markets for mobile usage of social networks," says Caetano.
