LOWER costs are drawing more and more users to access the Internet via their mobiles, and opening up opportunities for advertisers, industry players said on Tuesday.

Flat rates for data are becoming increasingly common, and mobile devices for accessing Internet content are more widely available, said Andre Levisse, of management consulting firm McKinsey and Company.

'It becomes cheaper and cheaper to just get one megabyte of data and that enables, probably, some change in the user behaviour,' he said during a panel discussion at the start of CommunicAsia, which bills itself as the region's leading information and communications technology conference and exhibition.

'Many people can afford good handsets that can really browse the Web,' said Mr Levisse, adding that even second-hand 3G handsets are now available in the region.

On the eve of the conference, Finnish telecom giant Nokia launched two new email-capable handsets for business users, and South Korea's Samsung unveiled its latest smart phone, a touch-screen model.

Last week Apple unveiled its touch-screen-activated 3G iPhone built for high-speed wireless networks, with faster Internet access and more features for users than its previous iPhone.

'I know that there's been disappointments in the past' over digital content, said Mauro Montanaro, chief executive officer of Jamba, a global provider of mobile entertainment, including music, videos and games. The company is part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

While the industry tries to offer more entertainment options and easier access, there is also great potential for mobile advertising growth, the panelists said.

'Mobile advertising is the future,' Mr Montanaro said. -- AFP