Gaming to be Key Contributor to Wireless Data Usage and Revenues
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., September 7, 2004 -
With good momentum already in the US and worldwide, In-Stat/MDR (http://www.instat.com) believes that mobile gaming, while remaining a niche market, will continue its rise as a key contributor to wireless data usage and revenues. The high-tech market research firm estimates that, by 2009, mobile gaming services in the US will generate $1.8 billion annually, or approximately 4.4% of total wireless data revenues. Additionally, by 2009, 78.6 million wireless subscribers in the US will play mobile games, and gaming downloads will increase more than tenfold from 2003 levels.
“Mobile gaming has come a long way since ‘Snake’ was first deployed on wireless handsets in 1997,” says In-Stat/MDR’s Director of Wireless Research, Clint Wheelock. In-Stat/MDR’s recent Consumer Mobility Study revealed that, at present, 6.5% of US wireless subscribers are extremely or very interested in purchasing mobile gaming services. According to Wheelock, “This level of interest clearly identifies mobile gaming as a niche opportunity for wireless carriers, application developers, and content producers.”
In-Stat/MDR also found that:
Unlike with other emerging mobile multimedia services, such as video and music, consumers interested in mobile gaming do not necessarily match the classic early adopter profile.
Consumers interested in mobile gaming are likely to already be wireless data users that own handsets with color displays, camera-phone functionality, and multimedia capabilities. On average, they are younger and more likely to be male than the general wireless subscriber base.
Mobile gaming users already play games an average of 5.1 hours per week on various devices in the home, including PCs, game consoles, and handhelds (versus 2.9 hours per week for all wireless users.)
The most popular mobile gaming genre is single-player board, puzzle, and word games.
Recent In-Stat research, Mobile Gaming Services in the US, 2004-2009 (#IN0401659MCD), includes survey results and analysis from In-Stat/MDR’s Consumer Mobility Study, including willingness to purchase mobile gaming services, as well as preferences for specific gaming genres. The analysis includes detailed demographic and behavioral profiles of mobile gaming intenders. The report also analyzes trends in mobile game content development, as well as key elements of the gaming user experience. An in-depth investigation of emerging technology trends is also provided, including: user interfaces and handset form factors, gaming-centric devices such as N-Gage, multiplayer capabilities, location-based gaming, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi integration, 3D graphics, and removable media. The report contains a summary of US wireless carrier mobile gaming product offerings and five-year US mobile gaming forecasts, including 2003 estimates and 2004-2009 forecasts for gaming users, downloads, and revenues.
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In-Stat’s market intelligence combines technical, market and end-user research and database models to analyze the Mobile Internet and Digital Entertainment ecosystems. Our insights are derived from a deep understanding of technology impacts, nearly 30 years of history in research and consulting, and direct relationships with leading players in each of our core markets. In-Stat provides its research through reports, annual subscriptions, consulting and advisory services to inform critical decisions. Technology vendors, equipment manufacturers, service providers and media companies worldwide rely on In-Stat to support critical business, product and technology decisions.
