The Revenue Streams of 2005

摘要

As is my habit and pleasure in this year-end column, I accom-pany the EContent 100 list with a look forward to the more promising new revenue streams (and trickles) of the coming year. As I insisted months ago, this year represented a financial comeback for the Web of which many dared not speak its name. But now that online ad revenues are officially exceeding the pre-bust highs of the 2000 bubble—and doing so based on much more solid business fundamentals—it is time to start waxing optimistic again. In no particular order of importance, these are the nascent money trails I anticipate following in the columns of 2005.Mobile Data: Once they get beyond ring tones and wallpaper, mobile phone users demonstrate an appetite for data, from stock and sports tickers to news alerts and soap opera updates. The comfort level with receiving content by phone is rising; just in the games category, downloads increased 75% in one quarter of 2004, according to enPocket. Revenue opportunities here are less significant than branding value for most content providers, however.