Mobile World Congress

The Mobile World Congress held last week in Barcelona was as large as the biggest auto-show in the world: 1,500 exhibitors and a crowd of 72,000 attendees from 200 countries. Astonishingly, only two media companies deigned to show up: Pearson with its huge education business accounting for 75% of its 2012 revenue (v 7% for its Financial Times unit); and Agence France-Presse (AFP) which is entering the customised application market. No other big media brand in sight, no trade organizations either. Apparently, the information sector is about to miss the mobile train. The mobile industry is roaring like never before. But the news media industry lags and will have to fight hard to stay in the game.