Tablets are eclipsing smartphones in the realm of mobile commerce
Adobe Systems Inc. has released a new study concerning mobile commerce. The study highlights which platform, smartphone or tablet, consumers prefer to use when making online purchases. Mobile commerce involves much more than purchasing products from a mobile device. It also involves shopping, comparing products, and finding the best deals. The study suggests that smartphones may not be up to the task of accommodating the needs of consumers, but tablets may be ideally suited for mobile commerce.
Tablets are catching up to computers
According to the study, the tablet conversion rate is 2.2%, while that of smartphones is only 0.7%. The study notes that computers remain dominant platforms in terms of commerce, but tablets are beginning to catch up due to their portability and ease of use. The study claims that consumers with tablets are as much as three times more likely to purchase products than those using smartphones. This makes tablet consumers a very valuable demographic in the realm of mobile commerce.
iPad proves to be the most popular platform for mobile shopping
Tablets are popular due to their larger, more responsive screens that provide consumers with a better shopping experience. The larger size of tablets makes them more accommodating to conventional websites, allowing consumers to view products without having to struggle with the constrictive size of smartphones. Of the tablets being used for mobile commerce, the iPad represents 77% of the devices used to access the Internet for this purpose.
Retailers may grow more accommodating of tablet devices
Tablets are expected to become the preferred platform for consumers interested in mobile commerce. Smartphones are likely to continue receiving support in this field, but the penchant for consumers to favor their tablets for mobile shopping may cause retailers and other businesses to shift their focus to larger mobile devices.
Skillz aims to take a new approach on mobile games
A new mobile games platform for Android developers has launched this week. The platform comes from a company called Skillz, which is a startup based in San Francisco, California, and the platform puts a new twist on mobile games and their monetization. According to Skillz, the platform introduces real-money prizes into mobile games, quite literally enabling consumers to win cash for playing the games making use of the platform.
Gaming continues to change as consumers become more mobile
Mobile games are one of the fastest growing sectors in the game industry. Consumers around the world have expressed both joy and enthusiasm for mobile games that is not entirely common in the game industry, which is constantly awash with criticism and cynicism. As mobile games become more common, developers are beginning to feel the need to separate themselves from the competition. Until recently, most mobile games have been fundamentally similar, if not identical. Skillz believes that real-money prizes may provide developers with an adequate way to establish an innovative presence in their field.
Platform allows for small cash prizes
The money offered through the platform is very real and gamers have the chance to win these funds if they perform well enough. The platform fosters competition with other gamers, pitting them against one another to determine who will win a real-money prize. While the concept seems somewhat gladiatorial, the funds awarded to gamers are very small, most being in 45 cent increments, yet there are abundant chances for gamers to win up to $1,000. Nonetheless, Skillz believes that adding a financial incentive into mobile games could have a powerful effect on consumers.
Platform is not technically set up for gambling
On the surface, the platform may seem bear some resemblance to gambling. Skillz does not, however, enable gambling. The platform allows consumers to place bets on skill-based games. Such games rely less on chance and more on the capabilities of the player. Because the outcome of these games is not determined by simple luck, gambling is considered a non-issue.
