m.Net Corporation has been appointed by the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) as an industry partner to develop the first publicly available Australian mobile phone lifestyle index.

The mobile lifestyle index is the first independent analysis of mobile phone use. Its overall objective is to develop a longitudinal insight into the profile, behaviour and preferences of the mobile consumers.

AIMIA’s Mobile Content Industry Development Group is also collaborating with Ideal Interfaces on the project, which will initially be conducted biannually.

m.Net Director Research Marisa Maio Mackay said that, unlike research conducted by telecommunications companies, the survey will be available to the whole industry.

“m.Net’s aim is to help grow the market for mobile content, but we first need to know a lot more about consumer behaviour – how people currently use mobile devices, and how they would like to be using them in the near future” said Dr Maio Mackay, who, together with Ideal Interfaces, and AIMIA will design, analyse and report on the survey’s findings.

“Ideally, each survey will have a special topic that reflects a particular area of interest for the industry, such as 3G ownership. We want to know how many people purchase mobile content, how often, and what type of content they buy.”

Until now, the mobile telecommunications industry has kept tight-lipped with regards to information about consumer behaviour.

“We look forward to working with AIMIA and Ideal Interfaces on the first independent survey of Australian consumer habits,” Dr Maio Mackay said.