Mobile Game sales top $8 Billion
by Kit

Tuesday, August 24 2004

Growing market spurred by growing mobile phone usage.

Researcher Strategy Analytics, Inc. has released a new report that eyes the future of the mobile game industry.

“Carrier Retail Channels Control $8 Billion Mobile Game Opportunity” suggest that over the next five years there will be an “expected six-fold growth” in the mobile space, with downloadable games contributing to 82.0 percent of the forecasted $8.0 billion market. The number of users of downloadable mobile games is eyed at reaching 220.0 million in 2009, up from 32.0 million currently. Over 1.0 billion Java and BREW handsets are also expected to be in use by 2009, versus 186.0 million active units currently.

David Kerr, vice president of the Strategy Analytics Global Wireless Practice, stated, “With scale, distribution agreements, brand licensing and management expertise playing an increasing role in mobile games publishing, some leading firms have emerged whose basis for competition is sufficiently robust to be considered lower risk and worthwhile of VC investment.”

Senior analyst Nitesh Patel added, "We are beginning to see carriers and games companies announce greater levels of usage of these handsets for downloading games. For example, in the five months leading up to May 2004, Verizon Wireless customers have downloaded more than 12 million games."

The full 44-page report is available to Strategy Analytics subscribers.

--- Kit