Category: Technology News

Mobile games dominate applications space

| December 14, 2012

 

Mobile GamesMobile games account for majority of revenue in apps market

Mobile technology has become an important aspect of the lives of consumers throughout the world. The advent of mobile technology paved the way for applications, pieces of software that provide consumers with a wide variety of services. The mobile applications business has become very lucrative, especially for the developers of mobile games. A new report for Canalys, a market insight and analysis firm, shows that mobile games are a major player in the applications space, and that game developers account for the majority of revenue generated therein.

Report shows that games are far more popular than other applications

According to the report, mobile games are among the most popular applications for Android and iOS mobile platforms. These games occupy a variety of genres and some have become the most favored forms of entertainment for some consumers. According to Canalys, some 25 mobile games developers accounted for more than half of the revenue generated through the applications market in the U.S. during the first 20 days of November. These developers accounted for more than $60 million in downloads and in-app purchases over this period of time.

Games offer versatile experiences

Mobile games are dominating the applications space. This may be due to the simplicity of mobile games and the lengths developers go to in order to ensure constant engagement with consumers. Other applications, such as GPS navigation apps, are not as popular because they are not exceedingly entertaining and serve one function. Mobile games, however, provide consumers with a source of entertainment that can be easily attained and customized to suit their interests.

Developers face major challenges despite success

Though mobile games have come to play a domineering role in the applications market, developers are still faced with significant challenges. The success of mobile gaming has attracted a veritable tide of new development studios, which are over-saturating the market and making it difficult for consumers to find games they are interested in and those that offer a quality experience. Marketability is also a serious challenge, as developers of mobile games do not typically operate with a strong marketing budget that can reach millions of consumers.

Mobile commerce hits a wall in India

| December 13, 2012

 

India Mobile CommerceMobile commerce may be facing serious challenges in India

Mobile commerce may be a rapidly growing phenomenon, but it if facing hard times in India, which could be a sign of things to come in the future for the rest of the global market. Mobile commerce is a relatively simple concept: Consumers using their mobile devices to purchase products and shop both online and in-store. This concept has won the adoration of consumers around the world, but its simplicity belies the complications that are associated with running a mobile commerce business.

Problems in India may foreshadow future challenges

In India, mobile commerce has hit a sheer drop-off, in terms of adoption and support. While consumers are still showing a great deal of interest in mobile commerce, this interest largely revolves around well established e-commerce gateways that most consumers already have extensive experience with. Most major retailers offer some form of mobile commerce service to consumers, and this is not necessarily good news for smaller ventures.

Data shows mobile commerce start-ups have high mortality rate

According to data from Microsoft’s India Accelerator Program, which provide services to technology start-ups throughout India, some 379 new technology product start-ups launched in the country before October of this year. Of these, 193 were e-commerce firms that specialized in some aspect of mobile commerce. Approximately 87 of these firms no longer exist, either because they have been absorbed by larger companies or they simply could not find traction with consumers. Investors becoming leery of the prospects of mobile commerce is cited as a major reason why these firms have faced failure.

Investors leery of supporting new start-ups

Investors are beginning to show hesitance when it comes to mobile commerce. Start-ups entering the mobile commerce field often make promises that are difficult to keep and investors backing companies that end  up failing face significant financial losses. If start-ups cannot compete with major companies like Google, which has established a strong presence in mobile commerce, they are not likely to find the traction they need to be successful, thus leading investors to question the prospects of supporting mobile commerce ventures.