JupiterResearch: Mobile social networks could be the next killer app for mobile

JupiterResearch has found that social networks hold the potential to be a killer application for mobile phones.

According to a new report titled “Mobile Social Networking: Assessing Social Strategies for Carriers and Handset Manufacturers,” mobile phones primarily play a disconnected role from social networks today. However, despite relatively low adoption of mobile social networking activities, active social networkers are using their mobile phones to interact with these sites, generating an enormous volume of traffic.

Handset manufacturers are beginning to make compelling plays in the mobile arena with social media by offering integrated mobile and PC-based experiences. Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is certainly a good example with their Ovi offering.

JupiterResearch’s president David Schatsky argues that mobile phones will likely rise in importance in the future. “Large corporations have already banned access to personal email on sites such as Yahoo! from work computers. It may just be a matter of time before visits to social networks fall into the same category,” he added.