Social networking may soon grow from just another mobile application into “killer app” status, JupiterResearch said in its latest report.

For “Mobile Social Networking: Assessing Social Strategies for Carriers and Handset Manufacturers,” Jupiter’s analysts found that current versions of mobile social networking are used mostly be people who already are heavy users of the desktop versions, not by casual surfers or first-timers.

“Today the low adoption levels are really due to the nature of the device itself. There are few examples of tightly integrated social networking experiences on cell phones and PCs,” analyst Julie Ask said.  That’s not because of any lack of trying on behalf of social networking companies or handset manufacturers, she said.

The report covers Facebook and Nokia, along with influencing factors such as mobile content creation and mash-up technology.