Only 45 per cent of businesses are currently using mobile as a marketing channel, according to research from digital marketing solutions provider StrongMail – and only 27 per cent are leveraging mobile messaging.

Thats not a particular pretty picture, but StrongMail says its a sign of mobile marketings potential for growth. Of those companies which are currently using mobile marketing, 57 per cent have only been running them for a year or less. And 75 per cent of companies which arent currently running mobile marketing plan to within a year. Of those businesses that are, meanwhile, 70 per cent expect to see their budgets increase over the same time period.

Off the back of this research, StrongMail has also announced a strategic partnership with Velti, to integrate Veltis mobile marketing platform into its Message Studio campaign management solution. StrongMail says the move is intended to address the opportunities shown in the results of its survey.

“Marketers are beginning to realise mobile’s ability to drive meaningful interactions with consumers,” said Amit Chaturvedi, General Manager, Media & Technology Solutions at Velti. “Velti ensures that marketers entering the mobile channel are driving real results through established best practices and vertical-specific campaign templates via the mGage platform. We look forward to helping StrongMail take advantage of this unique opportunity by expanding their mobile offerings.”