Mobile search revs to hit $4.8bn in 2013

But forecaster Juniper cautions against 'advertising overload' and security concerns.

Annual revenues generated by mobile search services are expected to reach $4.8 billion by 2013, according to a report from Juniper Research.

The report says that while revenue generated by data charges associated with mobile search is significantly higher than that generated by mobile advertising at the present time, the gap will close over the next five years.

However, the Juniper cautions that an 'advertising overload' might act as a disincentive to consumers and might ultimately limit adoption, while there are continuing public concerns over search engine usage of personal data.