Free is also France’s youngest Internet Service Provider and since a few weeks also its hottest new mobile telco. Launched in 1999, Free started by offering free Internet access, adding telephony and TV services in the years thereafter while continuing to upgrade its network.

Free mobile

This month, Free launched its own mobile network and a subscription model that appeals to the company name.

Using a strategy of very low pricing and an unlimited voice and data bundle, the new operator managed to win almost 2 million subscribers overnight. The number is growing fast – it currently stands at around 3 million.

This already represents 4.5% of the French market, which counts some 66 million subscribers currently according to The Netsize Guide.

Netsize and Free

Netsize messaging solutions are directly integrated with Free. Netsize customers can thus reach Free subscribers and efficiently send Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS messages, reliably and quickly. In addition to using our SMS gateway API, they can also reach the Free network with Netsize mMarketing, our easy-to-use web-based mobile campaign solution.

At present, Free is taking its place at the French mobile operators’ dining table. While the saying goes, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” Free seems to prove the opposite. Meanwhile, Netsize focuses on delivering the best solutions for reaching all French subscribers – via messaging as well as operator billing.

Click here to discuss your needs to launch or extend mobile services in France.

Gemalto and Netsize launch the brand new Netsize Guide by Gemalto today, the comprehensive reference work on the state of mobile technology and its impact on business and society.

Available as a free PDF download today from www.netsize.com, the 10th edition has identified three themes that characterize the state of mobile today and its future:

• Transaction – How we’ve come to rely on mobile devices for commerce from researching products to making purchases.
• Transformation – How mobile devices are increasingly driving content, communications and connectivity.
• Trust – How we require — and will soon demand — simple, transparent services and devices we can trust.

Aptly titled Truly Mobile, The Netsize Guide by Gemalto underlines these three key themes, supported by insights and interviews with over a dozen senior executives from companies across the business ecosystem including ARM, Atlas Premium Brands, BNP Paribas, CMO Council, The Coca-Cola Company, Gameloft, GlobalPlatform, Informa Telecoms & Media, Millennial Media, SingTel, Texas Instruments, Trusted Logic, Yahoo! and others.

We thank Peggy Anne Salz — chief analyst and publisher of MobileGroove.com, a top 50 source of analysis and commentary on all things mobile — who once again did a great job of interviewing the companies and writing the theme chapters of the book.

Highly rated …

In its 10-year history the Netsize Guide has built a large and loyal audience of readers who rate it among their must-read industry resources.

According to a 2010 survey of Netsize Guide readers, the majority of respondents — that is to say, YOU — gave the Netsize Guide high marks indeed! On a scale of 1-to-10, 75 percent of respondents gave the book an ’8′ or higher. Specifically, 37 percent gave it an ’8′, 29 percent gave it a ’9′ and 9 percent awarded it a perfect ’10′. You also told us you consider the Netsize Guide to be better or much better than other mobile industry reports. Allow us to thank you again for your participation in our survey and for your high appreciation of our work!

Packed with stats …

In line with our long track record for excellence the Netsize Guide by Gemalto uniquely brings together a wealth of market statistics from its partners Informa Telecoms & Media, comScore and SocialBakers. The 220-page book is packed with detailed market forecasts that reveal current operator market share, smartphone penetration, and consumer usage of mobile apps and social network Facebook across over 40 countries, and 3-year forecasts (2011-2014) for selected data.

An expert resource for benchmarking and planning …

Covering the use of mobile technologies for business and entertainment applications, the Netsize Guide has served as a beacon for business professionals and executives across industry sectors for a decade. Its unique format represents a balance of thought leadership and exclusive C-level interviews with in-depth market analysis, practical case studies and a wealth of practical mobile telecommunications data. Thus, the Netsize Guide by Gemalto is an indispensible knowledge resource for benchmarking and planning mobile services, allowing mobile professionals everywhere to stay up to date with mobile trends.

… available today as a free pdf download

The Netsize Guide by Gemalto is available as a free pdf download directly from the Netsize website and from our global launch partners including: 4A’s, AIME,the Mobile Data Association (MDA), Mobile Entertainment, the MEF, MobileGroove and ServicesMobiles.

We are confident you will enjoy reading this Netsize Guide by Gemalto and benefit from its insights. It is an essential read certain to serve you well as an industry reference for the year to come. Please feel free to contact us any time with your comments or ideas via Twitter (@NetsizeGuide and @NetsizeCorp), email [guide (at) netsize.com] or our websites www.gemalto.com and www.netsize.com.

Alexander Vlasblom
Marketing Communications Director, Netsize & Trusted Logic
Gemalto

It is with great pleasure that we present to you a brand new edition of the Netsize Guide 2010, Mobile Renaissance. For the first time in its 9-year history the book is now updated in its publication year with five new interviews and hot new 2010 telecommunications market data. We´ve kept the original 2009 data, providing you with a unique quarterly view on the mobile telecommunications market trend in 40 countries globally.

Download the Netsize Guide 2010 Updated Edition

Share with us your opinion of the Netsize Guide. Please take a moment to take part in our Netsize Guide reader survey. The questionnaire will take a few minutes to complete. Your feedback will help us to stay focused on what matters to you.

Take the Netsize Guide reader survey

We´d also like to stay in touch with you via social media. Follow @NetsizeCorp and @NetsizeGuide on Twitter. You can also visit our Netsize Guide microsites – Mobile Renaissance and the Netsize briefing room on MSearchGroove – where you are welcome to post your suggestions regarding new topics and trends you feel we should explore in the Netsize Guide.

We are confident you will benefit from the content and case studies we are covering in our upcoming projects, and we look forward to learning what content and companies you would appreciate most.

1. Relevancy Rules

   The ability to deliver the right message to the right person is one of mobile’s biggest selling points. Add the right context (content, location and timeliness of the message), and the relevancy of the message is boosted in a major way. Precise targeting is the top reason for marketers to include mobile marketing in their plans.

   

   Mobile Marketing Drivers (Source: Netsize Mobile Marketing Survey 2009). Copyright 2009-2010 Netsize. All rights reserved. www.netsize.com

2. Inhibitors Vary

   Starting with mobile marketing will find you overcome a few hurdles. The quality of your database, in particular acquisition of opt-in mobile numbers and maintenance of data quality might be a concern, and adherence to rules and regulations. What should be a realistic expectation on conversion ratios, and how to objectively measure campaign results? What tools to use and how to integrate with your existing CRM or campaign systems? Discuss these questions with your mobile marketing provider to set the strategy that is right for you.

   

   Mobile Marketing Inhibitors (Source: Netsize Mobile Marketing Survey 2009). Copyright 2009-2010 Netsize. All rights reserved. www.netsize.com

3. Messaging Leads the Pack

   The survey uncovers a decidedly positive attitude toward mobile marketing approaches and formats that build on the popularity and usability of text messaging and made-for-mobile destinations. For reaching a mass market, SMS is best positioned by far. Quick and easy to use, well understood, and flexible to be used for two-way text communications and in combination with more advanced media and formats, such as the mobile web, barcodes and also mobile applications.

4. Keep the Customer

   Mobile marketing is used to acquire new customers as well as to retain existing customers. In the given economic circumstances it does not come as a surprise that retention marketing is showing strong growth. Mobile marketing adds value to loyalty programs, where relevant and timed messages increase the closeness of the brand to the consumer, and provide stimuli for him to act, or as some say, spend.

5. Teams Work

   Mobile marketing is team work. While companies are convinced of the benefits of mobile marketing, the vast majority of companies still lack the resources and know-how to achieve their goals alone. Activities that are typically outsourced to an external service provider are campaign execution, and analytics and reporting.

   

   Mobile Marketing Resources (Source: Netsize Mobile Marketing Survey 2009). Copyright 2009-2010 Netsize. All rights reserved. www.netsize.com

To learn more about how companies make the most from mobile marketing, visit www.netsize.com. Here you can also download the full Netsize Mobile Marketing Survey Summary Report (free pdf download).

Le Mobile 2.0

In our latest report, “Netsize Mobile Marketing Survey 2009: Can companies and brands rise to challenge and cash in on the mobile marketing opportunity?”, we explore the do’s and don’ts.

Key results

• Companies and brands bullish on mobile marketing benefits, but lack skills set to execute campaigns
• Strong growth ahead for SMS and MMS messaging, positive outlook for branded apps and mobile websites
• High interest in targeting consumers, but high concerns that opt-in databases won’t deliver

Click here to request your free copy of the 12-page Summary Report of this study, and we’ll send you an email with your personal download link to the report.

We’ll present the results of this study at the MobileSQUARED Roadshow “Taking Internet Mobile” seminar in London, November 5, 2009.

• International survey reveals companies and brands bullish on mobile marketing benefits, but lack skills set to execute campaigns
• Strong growth ahead for SMS and MMS messaging, positive outlook for branded apps and mobile websites
• High interest in targeting consumers, high concerns that opt-in databases won’t deliver

Among the key findings:

• Mobile is part of the mix to attract and keep customers: The vast majority of respondents (56%) currently use mobile to acquire new customers. But that will change as respondents follow through on their plans to boost customer retention and loyalty through mobile marketing (64%), streamline transactions (37%) and enable commerce and sales using a mobile device (37%).
• Messaging is essential: Usage of MMS is poised for significant growth, with with 22% of respondents revealing plans to double deployment in the next six months. The use of SMS messaging is also on the rise, but will move from a one-way message to a two-way conversation.
• Marked interest in more innovative formats: Respondents reported use of branded content will increase from 29% to 35%, use of branded apps will rise from 23% to 35%. Finally, use of mobile coupons and QR codes will jump from 20% to 31%.
• Mobile marketing is teamwork: The vast majority of respondents (47%) outsource to providers that can meet their requirements for a fully-managed marketing solution. Campaign execution services was the most sought-after skill (57%), followed by measurement, analytics and reporting (54%), technical services and integration (52%), and mobile campaign management (52%).
• Quality of opt-in campaign databases is a main concern: One-third of respondents (32%) expressed concern over the quality of the customer mobile phone numbers stored in their opt-in databases.

“Market adoption of mobile marketing is accelerating. The survey results and analysis show companies and brands recognize the business benefits associated with mobile marketing and are serious about integrating mobile in their strategies,” says Stanislas Chesnais, Chairman and CEO, Netsize. “Respondents told us they are increasing use of messaging to engage in conversations with consumers on their mobile phone, and stepping up efforts to harness other exciting formats and approaches such as WAP sites, mobile websites and branded content. This momentum can only grow as the economy picks up steam.”

ABOUT THE REPORT

“Netsize Mobile Marketing Survey 2009: Can companies and brands rise to challenge and cash in on the mobile marketing opportunity?” is available from www.netsize.com.
The survey was conducted by Netsize to determine the role and usage of mobile marketing and the perceived business benefits. In total 221 respondents from four regions (Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific/Australia and Africa/Middle East) participated in this online survey for the period from September 15, 2009 through October 1, 2009.

Netsize, leading mobile commerce and communications enabler, today announced the launch of its Global market survey for Mobile Marketing.

The survey aims to uncover the extent to which mobile marketing has become a mature instrument in the marketing mix. Researched topics include strategic drivers, tactics, resources, opt-in data and short term plans for deployment.

The survey follows the one that Netsize conducted end of 2008 in collaboration with Informa Telecoms & Media as part of the Netsize Guide 2009. The study found that the number of companies that spend over 5% of their digital budget on mobile was expected to increase from 30% to 49% by 2010, a growth of 63%.

“The results very clearly suggested that mobile marketing is bound to become main stream,” says Stanislas Chesnais, Chairman and CEO, Netsize. “This year’s survey provides a reality check: how are companies moving ahead with mobile marketing in the current economic frame, and what did they do to enable successful campaigns.”

The Netsize mobile marketing survey report will be published begin October. A summary of the report is available free of charge to all participants.

Participate in the survey

Netsize is currently conducting a global survey on mobile marketing. The survey aims to obtain insight to what extent mobile marketing has become a mature instrument in the marketing mix.

We regard mobile marketing as the use of a mobile phone for marketing communications, commerce and services, between a company and its targeted audiences.

Please share your views and experiences with others by participating in this survey.

If you would like to receive the summary report, you may fill in your email address at the end of this survey and we’ll send it to you by email at the beginning of October.

The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and participation in the survey is anonymous.

To begin the survey, click here.

Paris, June 9, 2009 — Netsize, leading mobile commerce and communications enabler, today announced the availability of mMarketing V2.0, its web-based solution for managing mobile marketing campaigns.

“This new version enables resellers to provide their customers with a mobile marketing solution that runs out-of-the-box and can be custom-branded,” said Stéphane Roder, Group Marketing Director, Netsize. “Mobile marketing is crossing the chasm towards mass adoption. With Netsize mMarketing channel partners have the opportunity to start capitalizing on this trend in a key segment: small and medium-sized enterprises.”

Netsize mMarketing supports multiple media, including SMS, MMS, and Mobile Internet (WAP). Interactive marketing campaigns are simple to create as mMarketing supports the receipt of SMS responses.

During campaign execution, administrators remain in full control. They have a real-time view on progress and can suspend, resume and abort campaigns at any time. Campaign reports provide details on effective campaign reach and responses, including reply word statistics.

Netsize mMarketing is fully compliant with national messaging rules and regulations, and codes of conduct.