Ovum’s report, "Next-generation of Messaging: Unified Communications and ASP Strategies," foresees that all but the largest portals will have difficulty providing free UM/UC services. As more users come to depend on the service, free services will fall short of meeting the demands of these sophisticated users. This is an opportunity for service providers to offer higher-value, paid-for-services that will launch "winning" portals and retain valuable customers.

• Service providers could access UM/UC revenue from service subscription fees and indirect revenues from increased use of other services such as voicemail.
• Worldwide UM/UC service revenue to reach $31-billion by 2007, with almost $13-billion from service subscription fees, $16.5-billion from other network services, and $1.6-billion from advertisers.
• By 2007, there will be 218 million active users, up from 5.5 million in 2001.
• North America and China market share will account for 28 percent and 14 percent of the global market, respectively.

"As the number of unified messaging subscribers continues to increase, service providers should use UM/UC to bolster their business models and reduce customer churn," advises John Delaney, senior analyst. "They should also exploit the opportunity for offering UM/UC services as an ASP service, both to enterprises and on a wholesale basis to other service providers," he added.