The digital Economy

The Digital economy:

Some excerpts:
The way we make goods and produced has changed, thus creating new industries, sub-industries and economic models.

Growth rates of internet usage in the emerging markets are higher than those in the established economies.

As of December 31st 2007, Africa had 35 million internet users [Does it count Cybercafé users and surfing via cell phone ?] and 635 % user growth rate.

Cell phone is the fastest-selling consumer electronics in the history of retail in Africa. The African cell phone industry is estimated to have revenues of about .......per year.
The cell phone has quickly become one of the principal telecommunication device in Africa, second only to radio and a great number of industries offer diverse services [music, ringtones, mobile banking, Money transfer, Mobile marketing etc...]

Anecdote: 16 million Camera phone where sold in Africa in 2006, 45 million units are expected to be sold in 2010.

Wireless penetration was 24.4 % in 2006, expected to reach 35 % by 2010.

Cell phone has evolved from communication devices to multimedia platform. The cell phone content market consists of, games, images and ringtones.The possibilities for mobile video have attracted the attention of content providers, investors and IT engineers all the same.

Mobile entertainment markets:
Gambling, adult content, Mobile games, Mobile music, Mobile video, Mobile radio, Infotainment.

Music
500 million music files were purchased on the internet worldwide in 2006.
Mobile phone Users were expected to spend 13.7 billion on music in 2007 and are expected to spend 32.2 billion by 2010.

Online News and Classifieds
Worldwide newspaper circulation has increased 10 percent from 2000 to 2005, with more than 10,000 different daily newspaper titles and more than 450 million copies sold daily.
Worldwide local search (Caribbean restaurant in Abidjan, Ivory Coast) is expected to grow into a 13 billion USD industry by 2010.
Online classifieds are to grow to an 18 billion USD industry by 2010.

Blogging, Podcasting and Tagging

Hallmark activities of web 2.0 are blogging, podcasting and tagging.

As of mid 2007 70 million blogs have been created worldwide- 1.5 million postings per day.

Preferred Podcast programming in 2007
Technology news and commentary
National news
Local news
Music news
National sports
Political news and commentary

Social Networking
Mobile social networks or communities are groups of people with similar interests who use social networking websites primarily over mobile phones. The market for mobile communities would be worth 13.1 billion in 2011.

Social network advertising would reach 2.2 billion USD by 2010

E-Commerce
Fastest growing segments:
Video games, consoles and accessories
Sport and fitness
Consumer electronics
Event tickets
Jewellery and Watches
Furniture, Appliances and Equipment
Music, Movies and Videos
Computer software
Books and Magazines
Apparel and Accessories

Internet Advertising
Global internet Advertising Revenue to be 16.9 Billion in 2008. Types of internet advertising:
Search advertising
Display advertising
Classifieds
Referral/lead generation
Rich media
Sponsorship
Email

Is mobile phone advertising the logical economic model for Africa?

Online Travel
Travel websites/blogs provide an abundance of information to travellers.

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