Tag: mobile technology

Mobile games may soon dethrone consoles

| April 18, 2013

Mobile GamesMobile games are beginning to hold sway over the game industry as a whole

The game industry is currently experience a monumental shift as a new generation of consumers and technology enter into prominent markets around the world. For the past several decades, the game industry has been solely focused on console platforms, as well as PCs. The advent of mobile technology changed that focus, however, especially as advanced smartphones and tablets became extremely popular. Mobile games have quickly become one of the most lucrative aspects of the game industry, which has encouraged developers to swarm to the mobile space in order to take advantage of this popularity.

Developers beginning to swarm the mobile space

A few short years ago, mobile games were considered little more than novelty. They have, however, become one of the most successful fields in the game industry. Consumers around the world have shown that they are exceedingly interested in mobile games of all types, sinking hours upon hours of their times into games like Angry Birds and Temple Run. As these games find more and more traction among consumers, a growing number of developers are breaking away from publishers in order to establish their independent pedigree, much to the delight of consumers.

Consoles may be in for a tough fight

As developers find more success with mobile games, they are beginning to hold more power over the game industry. The industry has long been dominated by consoles, such as the Playstation and Xbox, but mobile devices are threatening to dethrone these platforms. A new generation of consoles is expected to be released sometime this year by Sony and Microsoft, but whether these platforms will be able to compete with mobile games has yet to be seen. ABI Research, a leading market research firm, suggests that competition with mobile games may be fierce.

Research firm suggests that mobile games are cutting into console opportunities with casual gamers

According to ABI Research, mobile games have diminished the opportunities available to consoles in the casual gaming market. Mobile games have introduced consumers to a new business model, wherein they can get the games they are interested in for free or for a very small fee. In general, mobile games that do cost money are $5 to purchase, at their most expensive. The vast majority of these games, however, are free. Many of these games do have in-app purchases that are, at times, somewhat controversial with some consumers, but these have not diminished the appeal of mobile games in any significant manner.

Apple may be gearing up to bring mobile commerce to a future iPhone

| April 17, 2013

Apple Mobile CommerceMobile commerce may be supported by the next iPhone

The world of mobile technology continues to move at break-neck speeds. Roughly six months after the launch of the iPhone 5, there are rumors circulating through the technology world concerning the next iteration of Apple’s iPhone. Apple is almost certainly working on a new mobile device, but whether it will be a new iPhone has yet to be revealed. The company has been looking to hire new talent that could hint toward the possible future of the iPhone, however, especially its future in the realm of mobile commerce.

Job listings hint at possible uses for AuthenTec technology

Several job listings for Apple are calling to software engineers and other talented individuals. One of these postings is for a position in Apple’s Melbourne Design Center in Florida, where AuthenTec is located. AuthenTec is a security company that Apple acquired in 2012 and Apple has been leveraging the company’s security solutions in order to ensure that mobile devices as protected against malicious attacks. These solutions could come in handy as Apple begins to take mobile commerce more seriously.

Apple backs away from mobile commerce with iPhone 5

In the months before the official launch of the iPhone 5, Apple had hinted that mobile commerce would be a significant focus for the new mobile device. Rumors suggested that the iPhone 5 would be equipped with NFC technology, making it capable of facilitating mobile transactions. This was not the case, however, as Apple adopted a slow and steady approach to the issue of mobile commerce, suggesting that NFC technology was simply not secure enough for the company’s interests in this particular field. While the iPhone 5 has not become the mobile payments platform that many consumers had hoped for, Apple has not abandon its interest in mobile commerce in any significant way.

Security solution could make mobile payments secure through a new iPhone

Apple has recently acquired trademarks for “AuthenTec” and “KeepSafe,” the latter of which refers to a security solution that may be a prominent feature of a future iteration of the iPhone. KeepSafe is a fingerprint enabled application that allows users to encrypt digital information. This information can only be accessed through fingerprint scan, making this information exceptionally secure as it can only be accessed by the owner of the fingerprint on file. This could add a significant layer of protection for Apple’s mobile commerce endeavors if the company has plans to make a future iPhone with mobile payment capabilities.