Roughly a quarter chargeable sales
Market researcher Gartner publishes its latest report, revealing an incredible two and a half billion bits of software were downloaded across ‘i’ phones and pods last year. The number downloaded since the App Store launched in July 2008 has been catapulted above the three billion milestone.
Opinions differ on the quantity that were actual sales, but with only 16 million apps downloaded across *all* rival platforms, Apple are dominating the market with a percentage cut in the very high nineties, however you cut the cake.
Gartner forecast app sales and revenue to grow and grow. Other pundits suggest the smartphone segment of mobile sales is expected to grow by 10% in 2010. But with the early majority more hesitant about paying for downloads and instead focused on their social contacts, more revenue share will be drawn from advertising. Unsurprisingly Apple has just acquired its own mobile ad firm, Quattro Wireless.
Dozens of new tablet devices premiered at the CES show last week (more on these in another post), and the secret to driving consumer demand for them will be finding something worthwhile to use them for, that isn’t just as easy on a smartphone or laptop. What the killer app will be, or even if it exists is still up in the air, but expect thousands of attempts to claim the prize.
Gartner report out
Gartner INC is a respected global provider of ICT research, analysis and advice to senior business movers and shakers. Their published report Dataquest Insight: The Top 10 Consumer Mobile Applications in 2012, is available to purchase but here’s a rundown of what they think the most popular mobile applications of next year will be.
- Money Transfer – Send cash to people by SMS. Amazing for the developing world, but hard to police
- Location-Based Services – Info and entertainment services, tailored to where you are
- Mobile Search – Search engines adjusting content for mobile consumers
- Mobile Browsing – Available on 60% of phones now, and ever increasing
- Mobile Health Monitoring – Heart rate, pedometers, remember-to-take-the-tablet alerts
- Mobile Payment – Small transactions through your phone and increased security to authenticate who you are
- Near Field Communication. Dump all the loyalty cards from your wallet, your phone will identify you as you walk past
- Mobile Advertising – We’ll all have to put up with more adverts
- Mobile Instant Messaging – Huge demand already but the price should come down, especially if they tag it with adverts
- Mobile Music – Continued attempts to get us to buy music through phones
I think games will continue be the real number one. I’d have liked education, online book and translation services to have featured, especially as connections multiply in the developing world.
Like to know more? purchase the report (but only if your employer pays)
Market researcher Gartner publishes its latest report, revealing an incredible two and a half billion bits of software were downloaded across ‘i’ phones and pods last year. The number downloaded since the App Store launched in July 2008 has been catapulted above the three billion milestone.