With mobile voice services becoming increasingly commoditized, network operators are turning to mobile data-related offerings to boost falling revenues, according to Frost & Sullivan. Gaming will be a key part of that strategy. By attracting a huge pool of customers and driving up network traffic, gaming promises to raise profits and should become a mainstay of operators' plans.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, World Mobile Gaming Markets, reveals that this industry generated revenues totaling $436.4 million in 2001. Steady growth for messaging-based, web-based and downloadable mobile gaming could push total revenues to $9.34 billion in 2008.

Before this sector can realize its full potential, Frost & Sullivan said market participants will have to implement micro-billing systems. As consumers are apprehensive about making over-the-air payments with credit cards for mobile services, network operators will need to use billing-on-behalf-of-others (BOBO) techniques to collect revenues for content providers.