KIRKLAND, Washington, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Embracing the 'long-tail' is the best way for mobile network operators and handset manufacturers to increase the use of mobile email among consumers, says WDSGlobal. The issues will be explored in a free webinar to be broadcast July 9 at 11am PST (http://www.wdsglobal.com/servicemine-webinar/)

Research from WDSGlobal suggests that consumers are looking to mobilize existing email accounts from the many thousands of email service providers available to them. Unfortunately, most network operators and handset manufacturers offer support and auto-configuration for a limited number of large, brand-name email providers only. If users wish to access alternative, 'long-tail' email accounts they often have to configure their handsets manually, using a series of complex parameters and settings. This complexity leads to many abandoning mobile email altogether.

"If you want anything other than Google Mail, Yahoo!, AOL Mail or suchlike, you'll likely have to know incoming and outgoing server names, port numbers and encryption types. You'll then have to manually configure your handset," explains Bill Lapke, Head of Sales (Americas) at WDSGlobal. "Let's be honest, do we really expect the average consumer to do this unsupported?"

Email has long been regarded as a potential killer-application for mobile handsets. However, despite success in the mobile enterprise market the technology has failed to achieve mass-market adoption among consumers. This is despite the fact that most handsets on sale today have a built-in capability for mobile email.

WDSGlobal cites the complexity of configuring handsets for email, especially those in the long-tail, as a major barrier to consumer adoption.

"The industry must embrace the long-tail of mobile email. Consumers don't want to create a new email address just for their handset, they want to be able to mobilize an existing account quickly and easily, no matter who the email provider," finishes Lapke.

WDSGlobal's Mobile Email Long-Tail webinar will be held on July 9 at 11am PST. Registration can be found at http://www.wdsglobal.com/servicemine-webinar/

About WDSGlobal

WDSGlobal is dedicated to helping mobile operators, handset manufacturers and service providers deliver more profitable products and services to end-users. From handset validation and readiness testing to mobile device management and end-user support, WDSGlobal offers the industry's most complete solution for the management of end-users, devices and services.

To find out more, please visit http://www.wdsglobal.com

SOURCE WDSGlobal