By 2012 there'll be more than 462 million mobile TV subscribers worldwide, according to new numbers from ABI Research. Much of the anticipated growth can be attributed to the expansion of 3G networks and flat-rate plans for mobile video as well as the buildout of mobile delivery networks. An increase in available content will also help, the market researcher says.

"Mobile operators' sustained investment in video delivery will continue to be rewarded by subscribers' growing adoption rates, particularly as they upgrade to new video-capable handsets," says ABI research director Mike Wolf. "Consumers are being increasingly enticed by better experiences through more powerful and larger screens as well as by a widening array of subscription options."

In the report "Mobile TV Services" ABI said that mobile video services in North America should see some significant growth in 2008 due to expanded availability of the MediaFLO service from Verizon Wireless, AT&T's long-awaited launch of its own MediaFLO offering and the growth of on-demand services.