[Satellite TODAY 09-04-09] ABI Research expects location based services (LBS) revenues to grow 156 percent from $1.7 billion in 2008 to $2.6 billion in 2009, according to a Sept. 3 report from the analysis firm. According to the report, “Location Based Services Market Data,” global LBS revenues will have surpassed $14 billion by 2014.
     “One of the main drivers of the strong growth in LBS is the popularity of an impressive number of off-deck LBS applications available for a one-off fee on smartphone platforms. Apple’s iPhone is leading the way, followed by Blackberry, Nokia and Android. There seems to be no limit to developers’ creativity in using location for functions such as search, social networking, messaging, micro-blogging and augmented reality. Combined with the astonishing popularity of the new generation of GPS-enabled touch screen smartphones, this will continue to constitute the lifeblood of LBS in the coming years,” ABI Research practice director Dominique Bonte said in the report.
     ABI said that despite the growth potential, it remains unclear which pricing and business models will emerge successfully. “ABI Research expects many business models will continue to coexist with recurring fees for many enterprise, navigation and safety services but free models for most other consumer applications,” said Bonte.

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