HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND — Adult revenues derived from mobile content and services reached $2.2 billion in 2008, a growth of 36-percent over the previous year, according to a report from Juniper Research.Most of the growth was driven by subscriptions to video streaming and video-chat services, which occurred primarily in Western European markets, the report noted. Western European markets accounted for 42-percent of the global revenue.

The report also revealed the increasing prevalence of 3G handsets in many European markets led to migration away from services offering only text and graphics towards video-based services, resulting in significantly higher average revenue per user.

Juniper analyst Dr. Windsor Holden, author of the report, said he expects video-chat services to become the largest revenue generator for mobile adult content by 2013, when the global adult mobile market could top $4.9 billion. He also expects Western Europe to remain the largest regional market for mobile adult services throughout the same period.

Revenues from the U.S. remain constrained by operator reluctance to introduce age verification systems, he added, and that trend probably will continue. U.S. mobile users consumed only 2-percent of the adult content distributed globally in 2008. Holden noted the gap could be due to poorer 3G network coverage than what exists in Europe, but also might be due to cultural attitudes about sexuality and political forces.

In addition to predictions, Juniper also handed out Future Mobile Awards to service providers of note. Berlin-based DiplayBoy received the Future Mobile Gold Award for Mobile Adult Services. According to Juniper, service and deployment have accelerated both on- and off-portal, enabled by a number of full-service products. DisplayBoy’s is one of the best, Juniper said.

“We are delighted to be awarded the Golden Future Mobile award, particularly since we are receiving it from such a renowned and respected body as Juniper Research,” DisplayBoy GmbH Chief Executive Officer Stefan Kathmeyer said. “The Future Mobile Award simply confirms that we are on the right track developing solutions for the mobile internet.”

Cherrysauce received the Silver Award for its provision of business-to-business services and solutions that Juniper considers among the leading drivers of adult content across a variety of markets.

“Cherry Media is thrilled, after more than six years service to the mobile entertainment industry, to receive our second Juniper award, which makes the 10th award in our trophy cabinet in total,” said Julia Dimambro, the company’s managing director and founder. “Juniper’s gratefully received recognition vindicates our position that consumer context converts content.”