Tag: mobile technology

Mobile games gain ground with young consumers

| September 12, 2013

Young people play mobile games almost as much as console and PC games

A new report from the NPD Group, a market research firm, shows that those between the ages of 12 and 17 are playing mobile games as much as they are playing console and PC games. Mobile games may be extremely popular among young consumers because of the value they place on mobile technology. For many young adults, smartphones and tablets are more often considered a symbol of social status rather than a tool of convenience. This is why the demand for mobile technology is so high among young adults when compared to that coming from older consumers.

Report shows teens spend an average of 7 hours per week on mobile gaming

The report suggests that teens aged 12-17 will spend an average of seven hours every week playing mobile games. This is an increase from the five hours per week that the NPD Group had estimated in 2011. The report also notes that mobile games are not only popular among teens. Children as young as 8 years-old frequently play mobile games, even when in the classroom. Even young people that do not have their own smartphones or tablets still find ways to play mobile games, borrowing their friends’ devices or those of their parents.

Mobile Games - Young ConsumersMobile games can be played anywhere

Part of the appeal of mobile games is the fact that they can be played anywhere. This is one of the reasons why these games have become popular among adults, especially those that commute to work on a daily basis. Young adults tend to play mobile games at home, but they will also play these games at school. Indeed, this trend is becoming so prominent that many educators are beginning to look for ways to utilize the popularity of mobile games in order to drive academic progress.

Mobile may eventually win out over console and PC

While mobile games may be popular, teens tend to spend more time on console and PC games. Mobile gaming is expected to continue growing in popularity among young consumers, but it is unclear whether mobile games will replace those on consoles or PC in the foreseeable future. Currently, much of the game industry has begun to focus more aggressively on mobile platforms in order to take advantage of the popularity of mobile gaming.

New iPhone features may boost adoption and impact mobile payments market

| September 10, 2013

Apple may be inching into mobile payments arena with iPhone upgrades

While Apple has not made any firm announcement concerning its future involvement in mobile payments, the company may have a major impact on that sector in the coming months. Wells Fargo has raised its projected price range for Apple stock this week, citing news that the famed technology company will become more flexible in its relationship with carriers of its iPhone devices. New technology that is expected to be introduced with the iPhone 5S is also creating some buzz and this technology could help boost the adoption of the already popular mobile device.

Fingerprint sensors could boost mobile security

Apple is expected to include fingerprint sensing technology in its iPhone 5S, which is likely to be released later this year. This technology comes from AethenTec, which was acquired by Apple somewhat recently. The company specializes in security technologies and its fingerprint scanner could make next generation iPhones significantly more secure than their predecessors. This added security could create more confidence among consumers and boost adoption rates, especially among those interested in mobile payments.

Apple - Mobile PaymentsApple to be more flexible with iPhone sales restrictions

Apple is also expected to relax the restrictions it has on iPhone sales, which will allow its partners to exhibit more flexibility in the device market. This may help Apple compete more effectively against other companies, such as Samsung, when it comes to mobile technology. Better security features may help Apple’s partners market the iPhone 5S to corporate customers — a market that has been held firmly by BlackBerry for several years.

Mobile payments may be in Apple’s future

Apple has been slow to warm to the concept of mobile payments in the past. Security concerns had caused the company to distance itself from NFC technology, which forms the backbone of most mobile payments platforms. Apple has been looking for an alternative to NFC and some rumors suggest that the company is developing its own mobile payments system for future iterations of its smartphones and tablets.