Retail and other Off-portal Channels to be Growth Drivers in Steadily Expanding European Mobile Gaming Markets

London, UK - 14th August, 2006 - The impending launch of handsets and game titles will support steady growth in mobile gaming markets across Europe. Inherent challenges such as gaming being a niche market application, the complications of super-distribution and effective billing mechanisms as well as high porting costs will, however, cause growth to be steady rather than overtly exponential.

Frost & Sullivan (http://www.mobileandwireless.frost.com) finds that the European Mobile Gaming Markets earned revenues of 850 million euros in 2006 and estimates this to reach 2,400 million euros in 2012.

“The future of gaming will be determined by the type of mobile devices available to customers and the quality of games delivered onto these handsets,” says Frost & Sullivan ICT Industry Manager Pranab Mookken. “The processing capabilities and screen sizes available on Smart phones/PDAs combined with quality 2D and 3D games will be key to promoting the growth of mobile gaming in Europe.”

Off-portal storefronts combined with super-distribution will be the most important sales channel for the mobile games markets. With gaming being all about competing with other players in a real time gaming environment, there will be a compelling need to ensure interoperability between devices and applications.

While operators will attempt to create awareness and educate customers about with embedded offerings, the market will grow and mature only with the variety offered by large off-portal storefronts who play the role of discounted super-markets.

“Super-distribution capability will drive the small but high value segment within the mobile gaming market, generating higher revenues for the entire industry,” adds Mr. Mookken. “The creation of communities using IMS and other IP-based ecosystems is already supporting enhanced games usage. ”

However, due to mobile gaming being a niche market in general, steady and not exponential growth is being projected.

“Not everyone likes to play games, therefore the gaming market is a niche market,” explains Mr. Mookken. “Operators and the industry should understand that while there is a scope for higher usage, the varied circumstances that users find themselves in during the course of a day, is likely to limit the number of subscribers who will purchase a game.”

The 80:20 rule inevitably applies to this market as well. The mobile device is currently best suited for casual gaming and while the current trend shows a rise in game plays on mobile handset devices, this is a reflection of the use of embedded games, therefore not translating directly into revenues for the market. Frost & Sullivan sees this trend is likely to persist in the future as well.

At the same time, high porting costs are further increasing the cost of game development in a market already fraught with risk. Porting costs are often as expensive as the cost of game development, therefore adding to the cost of the game to the consumer. Besides, high porting costs means that publishers and even operators cannot often make the game available to as many devices as they would like it to be compatible with.

“The need is to create, innovative purchase mechanisms while incentivising mobile gaming services for customers, through marketing and promotional bundles with other content applications - driving non-gamers, or casual gamers using only embedded content, to see some value in purchasing mobile gaming,” advises Mr. Mookken. “Handset manufacturers and game developers need to work closely to limit the number of APIs, screen sizes and other software and hardware which are often barriers to game deployment.”

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the European Mobile Gaming Markets, 2003-2012, then send an e-mail to Srividhya Parthasarathy - Corporate Communications at sparthasarathy@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information via email upon receipt of the above information.

European Mobile Gaming Markets, 2003-2012 is part of the Mobile and Wireless Subscription which also includes research in the following markets: European Mobile Music Markets, European Mobile Video and DVB-H Markets, Mobile TV and DRM markets. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit www.frost.com

Title: European Mobile Gaming Markets, 2003-2012
Code: B642- 65

List of key industry participants: Mobile operators - Vodafone, Orange, O2, Telia Sonera, Telefonica, Movistar; Spain, 3 / Hutch; Handset / Device Vendors - Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Ericsson, Ericsson Mobile Platforms, Sony Ercisson; Developers, Publishers and Aggregators - GLU, Hungamma Mobile, In-Fusio, Tira Wireless, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Europe, Jamba, Electronic Art, Game Loft; Publishers and Aggregators - Selatra, TelcoGames; Mobile Deck / Console Manufacturers - Sega, Sony - Playstation (Sony Computer Entertainment), Nintendo

List of keywords in this press release: Europe, mobile gaming markets, markets, mobile gaming, game titles, handsets, super-distribution, billing mechanisms, porting costs, retail channels, off-portal channels, mobile devices, screens sizes, processing capabilities, smart phones, PDAs, 2D games, 3D games, super-distribution, mobile handset devices, embedded games, mobile games markets, gaming, real time gaming, mobile devices, mobile applications, IMS, IP based ecosystems, porting costs, games development, handset manufacturers, game developers, APIs, screen sizes.

Contact Information

Mireya Castilla

Corporate Communications Americas

Frost & Sullivan

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