Title: Measuring mobile service usage: methods and measurement points

Authors: Antero Kivi

Addresses: TKK Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Communications and Networking, P.O. Box 3000, FI-02015, Finland

Abstract: A comprehensive understanding of mobile service usage is increasingly difficult as a fragmented user base is accessing internet-based services using multiple wireless networks. In this paper, alternative data collection methods are reviewed. Surveys and end-user monitoring provide very detailed sample-based data, whereas wireless network data are less granular but cover an operator|s entire subscriber base. Servers give detailed data on a focused user base. In future, survey-based methods will be increasingly complemented with automated measurements. Multifunctional mobile handsets and servers of internet-based service providers seem the most promising measurement points, whereas 2G/3G mobile networks are less useful as traffic leaks to alternative networks.

Keywords: mobile services; wireless networks; mobile networks; mobile communications; service usage; user behaviour; data collection; methods; measurement points; market research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2009.023692

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2009 Vol.7 No.4, pp.415 - 435

Published online: 08 Mar 2009 *

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