Category: Featured News

GREE and Yahoo Japan to launch new venture focused on mobile games

Mobile games giant GREE has announced it has been working with its partner Yahoo Japan  over the past several months to introduce a new take of social games into the Japanese market. GREE and Yahoo Japan joined forced in November 2012 and put a strong focus on addressing some of the demands that had emerged among consumers in Japan. Now, the two companies have announced that they will launch a joint venture in March, 2013, that aims to revolutionize social games and the way people play them.

Consumers show strong support for social games

Mobile games are very popular in Japan, especially those with strong social elements. Consumers have proven time and again that they enjoy various forms of social media, with Twitter and Facebook serving as examples for such interest. When it comes to gaming, consumers typically enjoy those that they can play with friends or, in some cases, complete strangers. These games attract interest because of they tend to create a community atmosphere that can be both competitive and welcoming to a wide range of consumers.

Venture will draw upon strength of GREE and Yahoo Japan

The new joint-venture is being called “GxYz,” though its name is likely to be changed in the future. Both GREE and Yahoo Japan have invested more than $2 million into the venture and is being designed to build upon the strength of both of its parent companies. The venture will take advantage of GREE’s strong presence in mobile games and Yahoo Japan’s user acquisition capabilities to help draw more attention to the social gaming business. The venture is suggested to open up new possibilities in the development of mobile games and help introduce new ideas to the industry.

Developers may help revolutionize the game industry with mobile games

The venture will be focused exclusively on the Japanese market. Japan has long held a very prominent position in the game industry, as many of the world’s most acclaimed development studios call the country home. These studios helped shape the early years of gaming and may help usher in a new generation of mobile games that could have a major impact on the game industry as a whole.

Report highlights the growth of India’s mobile commerce sector

TechNavio, a leading market analysis firm, has released a new report concerning the growth of mobile commerce in India. Consumers throughout the country have been showing strong interest in mobile commerce, especially as smart phone and tablet ownership rises. As mobile devices become more prolific, consumers are discovering services that had, in the past, been non-existent. The firm’s Mobile Commerce Market in India 2012-2016 highlights some of the trends that are emerging in India and forecasts the future for the country’s mobile commerce market.

Growth powered through mobile device proliferation

According to the report, India’s mobile commerce market is slated for a compound annual growth rate of 71% between 2012 and 2016. One of the major factors contributing to this growth is t he increasing number of mobile devices being made available throughout the country. More powerful smart phones and tablets, as well as expanding access to mobile Internet, has enabled more people to discover new forms of commerce.

Security continues to be a major threat

The report notes that the mobile commerce market has also been receiving significant government support. This is primarily due to concerns regarding mobile security. Because mobile devices handle a high volume of personal information, including a consumer’s financial details where mobile commerce is concerned, the risk of cyber crime is relatively high. Hackers can steal and exploit a consumer’s financial information if there are not adequate security measures in place. The Indian government is keen to ensure that such sensitive information is as protected as possible.

Businesses expected to see challenges within India’s market

While the mobile commerce market in India is poised to see major growth in the coming years, companies and financial services institutions interested in the mobile space will likely be faced with many challenges. Currently, the most significant challenge that exists in the mobile commerce world is security, but promoting the adoption of and participation in mobile commerce among consumers is also likely to prove challenging.