Value-added services -- problems of definition and data

Value-added services (VAS) are claimed to be among the most important and fastest-growing parts of the telecommunications industry. However, there is a striking lack of precision in the use of the term VAS. Because of the problems of definition the empirical evidence concerning the volume of these markets varies considerably. Furthermore a critical examination of market estimates and forecasts dealing with the topic of VAS reveals that their methodological foundations are weak or non-existent. As for the future development of the various VAS markets, technological factors will shape their structure and content.