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MOBILE GAMING WHALES: Almost 75% of combined consumer spending on the iOS App Store and Google Play was generated by games, according to a new report from App Annie and IDC. Gaming revenue doubled on iOS while quadrupling on Google Play in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter a year prior. Clearly, this is further indication that mobile gaming is a huge mobile revenue driver.
But a majority of this mobile gaming money is coming from a small contingent of players. The mobile gaming industry has a contingent of "whales," or big spenders, says app marketing firm Swrve. The top 10% of people who spent money on games over the Swrve network in January 2014 contributed to over 50% of all gaming revenue for the month. When looking at just those players whose spending made up the top 10% to 20% of the pool, that share drops all the way to 16%. Eric Johnson at Re/code sums up the phenomenon: "Games for the many, paid for by the few." (IDC, Swrve, Recode)
THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING [SLIDE DECK]: Get ready for the Internet of Everything. We've created a comprehensive slide deck covering all the key trends and forecasts for the newest array of Internet-connected devices, objects, and systems. With the Internet powering everything from smart watches to garage doors, new opportunities for data collection, content distribution, advertising, and consumer engagement are opening up. And with PC, smartphone, and tablet markets already nearing saturation, the Internet of Everything will serve as the foundation for the next wave of consumer electronics growth. (BI Intelligence)
PHABLET APATHY: Kantar Worldpanel has released a new report showcasing several new mobile trends in Western Europe. But one of the most interesting developments is the region's shrinking preference for phablets. About 42% of phablet owners in the five largest European markets (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K.) ditched their large 5-inch-plus screens for something smaller in the last year. Looking at the global market as a whole, phablets are siphoning demand from larger tablets, though this trend is likely being fueled by consumers in large Asia-Pacific markets. (Kantar Worldpanel, Quartz)
QUOTE OF THE DAY— "T-Mobile’s plans were so blindingly sensible that its competitors have been forced to respond."— Farhad Manjoo of the New York Times discussing how T-Mobile, led by its aggressive CEO John Legere, has disrupted the U.S. wireless telecommunications industry. (New York Times)
PROJECT ARA FOR $50? Yesterday, we discussed Google's new modular smartphone prototype, Project Ara, but more information has now surfaced. The Google Advanced Technology and Projects team opened up to Time magazine that their intention for Project Ara is to have it retail for only $50. The catch — the $50 base model would only come with Wi-Fi connectivity. (Time)
THE WEB AT 25: New Pew data takes a look at the state of the Internet as it comes into its 25th year of existence. A few highlights — computer use among American adults jumped to 81% in 2014, and was down at 41% 25 years ago in 1990; cell phone ownership jumped from 53% in 2000 to 90% in 2014; and Internet use is up at 87% from just 14% in 1995. (Pew)
LINE IS OPENING UP ITS STICKER MARKET: During a press conference in Tokyo, LINE announced that it will open up its sticker market to all would-be designers. The Japan-based mobile messaging service is set to launch the expanded service, called the Line Creators Market, in April. LINE’s sticker market was previously limited to official partners. The messaging service generates 20% of its revenue from stickers, with 1.8 billion stickers sent daily. (TechCrunch)
REGULATING MOBILE MESSAGING APPS: The CEO of Bharti Airtel, the biggest mobile operator in India, has said that mobile messaging applications should be subject to jurisdiction. Meaning, presumably he wants these messaging apps to pay fees for using mobile operators' networks. Another operator, SingTel, has voiced similar concerns. As mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and LINE have replaced traditional SMS activity with app-based communication, mobile operators have begun losing revenue. WhatsApp recently announced adding voice calls to their service, which could cut into another of mobile operators' revenue streams. (ZDNet)
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