Author: Lucy

Mobile gaming apps are still performing better than consoles

| October 12, 2015

Games applications are growing in popularity among players with both tablets and smartphones.

When it comes to video games, the mobile gaming apps sector appears to be continuing its path toward a powerful and growing lead over its competition, which has traditionally been from the console category.

Analysts are now predicting that mobile games will surpass consoles before the end of this year.

In fact, recent data has indicate that mobile gaming apps have already become an industry that is worth a tremendous $25 billion. Analysts see this revenue climbing to $40 billion by 2018. As the expectations of gamers for mobile gaming apps continue to rise, companies are often letting some of their older titles drop so that they will be able to focus their attention on new and cutting edge innovations in game applications.

There are certain companies that have been quite successful in their own mobile gaming apps.

Mobile Gaming AppsThose for which gamers currently have the highest expectations include Electronic Arts (EA), Tapinator, Activision Blizzard, Take-Two Interactive Software and Glu Mobile, among others. These mobile app developers have not only already put out some highly popular titles, but they also have some very promising titles in the pipes that will be released over future months and years.

This is causing a fascinating shift in the key companies within the video game industry and it is showing that many players are looking for a different experience from that of a console. After all, they are playing on their smartphones and tablets, which are devices that they already have, instead of having to purchase a console for hundreds of dollars. Moreover, they are purchasing games for a few dollars, or are playing them for free on their smartphones and tablets, whereas console games are notoriously expensive – particularly when it comes to the popular ones.

While console games are far from being irrelevant, the market for mobile gaming apps is ever expanding as smartphone penetration becomes ever greater in virtually every market around the world. The very nature of these applications has offered them a considerably greater reach among consumers across the globe.

Mobile commerce is about to get personal, says Google, Facebook

| October 6, 2015

Some of the giants in the industry are saying that smartphone shopping will soon be far more personalized.

As mobile commerce continues its evolution, new developments, insights, and predictions have become relatively commonplace, particularly as a growing number of real-life features are starting to be included in the shopping experience to integrate smartphones in the shopping experience.

Beacons, mobile marketing, and smartphone based payments at checkout counters are blurring the reality/digital lines.

Now, some of the largest players in this market, including Google, Facebook, and Foursquare, are attempting to ensure that smartphone users are able to use mobile commerce to purchase the products and services they want whenever they want them and at any time. This effort is also trying to make the process as seamless as possible. These companies have also revealed that there is one major trend that appears to be present on virtually every level of mobile commerce as it moves ahead, and that is customization and personalization. The more a customer is able to see relevance and convenience with the use of smartphones as a part of their shopping experience, the more they are using it.

Mobile commerce is, therefore, about to become an increasingly personalized experience for consumers.

Mobile Commerce - PersonalAccording to the Facebook director of global marketing solutions, Kelly Graziadei, mobile apps are making up about half the total time that consumers are spending on their smartphones and tablets. Moreover, it was pointed out that 75 percent of that time is spent on the four most popular mobile apps, including that social network.

Therefore, among the main questions that are now being asked by the companies behind the leading applications is with regards to how they can go about continuing to engage a customer over the application and ensure that the right product is placed in front of the right individuals at exactly the time that they actually want it.

Graziadie explained that deep linking makes it possible for a customer to be sent from their Facebook or Instagram account to a retailer, and while this is a “big part of it,” it is also important to note that one of the primary questions in retail is exactly where the customer should be sent. Should it be to an app or to the website. The next mobile commerce question is how to use that direction to ensure that the experience will be as seamless as possible, as the key is to make sure that it is an entirely personalized experience.