Tag: app store

Apple could be testing mobile payments service in Japan

| July 17, 2014

Apple launches new service for iOS users in Japan

Apple may be testing its mobile payments platform in Japan. The famed technology company has launched a new service for Japanese iPhone and iPod users. The services is called iTunes Pass and is associated with the iTunes Store, the App Store, and the iBookstore. The service will allow people to use their financial data to pay for products on Apple’s various store platforms. This could be the beginning of a much larger mobile payments initiative from Apple.

Company retains its strong interest in mobile payments and shopping

Apple has had a strong interest in mobile payments for some time. The company has, however, been quite cautious when it comes to entering into the mobile money space. This is due to the large number of similar companies that have fallen prey to the digital threats that exist in the mobile world. Google, for instance, encountered serious security issues with the initial launch of its Wallet platform, which stymied its attraction to those interested in mobile shopping and payments. Apple is keen to avoid such issues.

iTunes Pass is designed as a high tech substitute for physical gift cards

Apple - Mobile Payments JapanCurrently, the iTunes Pass service is designed to serve as a replacement for physical gift cards. Digital versions of these gift cards can be stored in the Passbook application, which is Apple’s version of a mobile wallet. Gift cards stored in Passbook can be accessed by iTunes Pass, allowing those that own these gift card the ability to use them to purchase goods from Apple’s digital stores.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 6 will have mobile payments capabilities, but such features are not yet set in stone

Apple has taken a slow approach to the mobile payments space. For the past two years, rumors concerning the company’s entry into the field of digital commerce have largely been centered around new versions of the company’s iPhone device or its iOS operating system. Current rumors suggest that the iPhone 6 will mark Apple’s official entry into the mobile payments arena, but whether or not this will be will the case has yet to be seen.

Mobile games could help Google beat Apple

| April 24, 2013

Google Mobile GamesGoogle Play posts strong gains with the help of mobile games

Google has been seeing strong growth in its applications store. Google Play is home to a vast assortment of mobile applications covering a variety of needs and interests. Google has announced that Google Play’s revenue has shown impressive growth, outpacing that of Apple’s own App Store. Mobile games play a contributing factor in this growth, especially as more consumers become interested in mobile games for the sake of entertainment. Indeed, mobile games may soon help Google Play acquire the momentum necessary to overcome Apple.

Research shows that Google is catching up with Apple

According to Canalys, a leading market research firm, both the App Store and Google Play accounted for $2.2 billion in revenue collectively during the first three months of 2013. Apple’s App Store represents 74% of this revenue, with Google picking up the remainder. Similar data from App Annie, an analytics firm, suggests that Google Play revenue were 38.5% of the App Store’s, representing a significant gain for Google.

Asian markets show strong support for mobile games

Growth is strongly felt in a wide range of categories, but mobile games are helping add significant momentum to Google’s growing revenues. A craze has begun to form around mobile games in several countries. In South Korea, for instance, mobile games represent some of the most used applications on Google Play. This is partly backed by the growing availability of smartphone and tablets. As these mobile devices become more common, more consumers have opportunities to play mobile games or make use of the other applications available on Google Play. Currently, mobile games account for 90% of the revenues generated in South Korea and Japan as far as Google Play is concerned.

Google Play may overcome the App Store by 2016

The applications market has become inundated with mobile games over the past two years. These games have proven quite popular with a wide range of consumers, leading the game industry to throw its considerable strength behind the development of these games. If mobile games continue to show impressive growth, Google Play is likely to surpass the App Store in terms of revenue by 2016.