Online social networks have been difficult to monetize. Ditto for mobile media. But in light of growth rates — on both fronts — that should change within the next few years, says a new report. More than 140 million subscribers worldwide will use social networks on their cell phones by 2013, generating $410 million in subscription revenues, according to ABI Research’s September 2008 “Mobile Social Networking” study (per eMarketer). Still, that forecast is lower than ABI Research’s previous estimates. In December 2006 the company predicted that mobile social communities would reach 174 million users by 2011.
