New API tech from Khronos Group may improve gaming experiences on mobile devices.

A new mobile API (application programming interface) called “Vulkan” is capturing the attention of the mobile gaming industry. The new tech is being hailed for its ability to deliver superior graphic effects in smart devices. This even includes devices with lower grade hardware specifications.

Vulkan’s creators are determined to help developers design better games.

The developers behind Vulkan are the Khronos Group; an American non-profit, member-funded consortium. According to the Khronos Group official website, their goal is to create “royalty-free open standards for parallel computing, graphics and dynamic media on a wide variety of platforms and devices.”

As for Vulkan, it is a new generation graphics and compute games-focused API specification that is based on AMD’s Mantle tech. It provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs utilized in an array of devices. These devices range from PCs to consoles to mobile phones and embedded platforms.

Android users may no longer need the most expensive smartphone to enjoy premium mobile gaming.

During the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Samsung Electronics showed off its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones. Both smartphones are the first to support the Vulkan API. Samsung teamed up with Nexon to display Nexon’s mobile game “Heroes of Incredible Tales” for the S7 series phones. It is one of the first mobile games to support the Vulkan tech.

“Vulkan’s fast performance delivers an optimal gaming experience to every player providing a 30 percent increase in average frame rate,” Samsung said. The tech has also been designed to generate better 3D graphics and will replace OpenGL. This is the existing API standard currently used in Android, Windows and Tizen operating systems.

Google also intends to support the Vulkan API in the next version of its Android OS. Currently nicknamed Android N, the operating system is expected to be launched later this year. If the upcoming upgrade of Android supports Vulkan tech, this could mean that users might not have to purchase the most expensive high-specification smartphones to play the latest mobile game titles.

By being able to produce superior 3D graphics with less system overhead on application processors in operating systems compared to OpenGL, Vulkan could revolutionize the mobile gaming industry.

A new report showed that this technology sends more traffic into shops and could increase sales.

As shoppers increasingly look to smartphones for products in-store mobile commerce tools are having a greater impact. Brick and mortar shops that offer additional shopping assistance over mobile devices see more traffic and sales.

A recent DMI report showed that 70 percent of U.S. shoppers always or regularly use mobile devices to shop.

Still, retailers have yet to fully implement the kind of in-store mobile commerce opportunities that consumers love. This kind of m-commerce tool has the ability to raise customer engagement and in-store efficiency. Yet they are still not commonplace.

Recent research showed that shoppers want to use their mobile devices while in brick and mortar stores. More specifically, they want to be able to use smartphones as a part of self-checkout systems. They also want to be able to gain access to store inventory. When they are being assisted by a store associate, consumers want to receive alerts to tell them when their items are ready.

In-store mobile commerce tools can incentivize customers to visit shops more frequently.

These mobile apps and other features can also encourage customers to spend larger amounts once they’re there.

The DMI report provided significant insight into this trend. Among U.S. shoppers, 61 percent would visit a favorite retail shop more frequently if it had a better application. These consumers want more tools and improved value from retail apps.

Furthermore, 57 percent of shoppers said they would spend more money in-store if they had a better app to use. Another 70 percent of consumers said they would select one retailer over another based on the mobile tools they offer.

Retailers have traditionally struggled in encouraging consumers to download their mobile apps. The barriers to download include an aversion to standalone apps for every retailer they like. Moreover, many consumers don’t like the clunky functionality many apps have to offer.

However, when retailers introduce strong mobile tools, there are two strong benefits. The first benefit is enhanced user engagement. The second benefit is the chance to boost in-store foot traffic.