The surge in messaging volume has increased the need for capacity enhancements and ongoing maintenance by messaging platform vendors, according to market research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Frost & Sullivan estimates that total short message service (SMS) will exceed seven trillion messages globally by 2015. The research firm said that providing additional capacity to manage SMS and voice are the top two services used on any cellular network.

Mobile operators globally are ensuring that the messaging experience is carried over to the high-speed 4G networks currently being deployed, the firm added.

However, the biggest challenge is to create enough value in any new premium messaging service offered to ensure sufficient penetration among the subscriber base.

Stating that the P2P messaging revenues are to some extent stagnant, the research firm said A2P (or P2A) messaging could offset some of these impediments to a certain limit, beyond which the industry participants have to work collaboratively to ensure that enough value is created to be able to command a premium over and above the existing fees paid by the subscriber.

All IP networks, which are expected to be used commercially worldwide, present some unique possibilities such as availability of newer, more capable devices, proper handling of roaming scenarios, and uniform adoption of industry standards.

Further, providing service creation frameworks that allow mobile operators to deploy new messaging-based services is expected to emerge as the prime opportunity for mobile messaging vendors.