Denny |
September 16, 2013
China mobile games market to see strong growth
A new report from Niko Partners, a market research and analysis firm, shows that the Chinese mobile games market is slated to see strong growth this year. The report highlights the growing popularity of mobile games and makes use of data collected by more than 4,000 Chinese consumers and over 370 million smartphones. Many consumers have been showing strong interest in mobile games because of the convenient entertainment they offer and the fact that these games can be played anywhere and at any time.
Market to reach $1.3 billion by end of 2013
According to the report, China’s mobile games market is expected to reach $1.3 billion by the end of 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate of 46% from 2012 to 2017. The report notes that mobile games began growing in popularity among consumers in China during the latter months of 2012. This resulted in a decline in social online games on popular social media sites as well as games for PC platforms.
Availability of smartphones helps promote mobile games
Another factor contributing to the growing popularity of mobile games is the proliferation of smartphones. The report expects that more than 500 million smartphones will be active in the country by the end of 2013, up from the 100 million recorded in early 2012. Furthermore, China’s telecommunications companies are working to bolster the nation’s 3G connectivity network, providing consumers with faster and more reliable mobile Internet access. This allows them to take advantage of the features offered in social mobile games more effectively.
Market consolidation could lead to higher quality games
The report shows that there are more than 80,000 development studios in China that are currently working on mobile games. Approximately 100 mobile games are released in the country on a daily basis. While there are many different studios currently working on active titles, large studios are working to consolidate the market. In the coming years, many smaller studios are expected to be absorbed into their larger counterparts. This may mean fewer mobile games developed within the country, but it could also mean a higher level of quality for games produced by larger studios.
BWild |
September 13, 2013
Apple unveils iPhone 5S and 5C
Apple revealed its highly anticipated iPhone 5S this week during a special press event, but the famed technology company also unveiled some unexpected products as well. Apple has been fighting to maintain its market share in the mobile sector for some time, and this fight has became more desperate when long-time rival Samsung took the top spot in the global market. In an effort to boost device sales, Apple unveiled the iPhone 5C, which is meant to be a low-end smartphone designed to appeal to the world’s low-income populace.
New 5S could be a hint at Apple’s mobile payments interests
Apple’s event was enough to generate hype among long-time supporters of the company. The iPhone 5S has won praise for the new features it offers, the most notable of which is fingerprint sensor technology that could make the device much more secure than its predecessors. This technology could also help Apple break into the mobile payments space, which the company has been approaching with caution for some time. While Apple sees a great deal of promise in mobile payments, the company considers this sector to be somewhat dangerous due to the lackluster security features that some payment platforms offer.
Fingerprint technology may help make mobile payments more secure
While Apple has not yet made an announcement concerning its plans for mobile payments, the iPhone 5S could provide some insight on where the company is heading in this sector. Equipped with a fingerprint scanner, the iPhone 5S is able to function as the most secure mobile payments platform available. The technology is able to authorize payments more effectively than conventional platforms, many of which are based on NFC technology. Apple considered NFC technology to be lackluster for mobile payments because the technology is susceptible to hacking, putting a consumer’s financial information at risk.
5C designed for low-income consumers
The iPhone 5C and other models are not designed with mobile payments in mind. The 5C is meant to appeal to low-income consumers who have an interest in smartphones but not necessarily enough money to purchase cutting-edge models. The iPhone 5C is expected to retail for approximately $99, whereas the iPhone 5S will feature a significantly higher price tag.
