Statistics from comScore reveal that the number of mobile game downloaders grew by 17% between November 2007 and November 2008, when 8.5 million people, or 3.8% of mobile subscribers, downloaded a game to their mobile device. 34% of these mobile game downloaders owned a Smartphone, compared with 10% in November 07.
The iPhone and BlackBerry Curve have replaced the RAZR and low-end flip phones as the most popular gaming platforms, according to comScore. In fact, the number of Smartphone owners downloading a game almost tripled. iPhone owners accounted for 14% of mobile game downloaders in November, with 32.4% of all iPhone users reporting that they downloaded a game in the month, compared with a market average of 3.8%.
“The rapid growth in Smartphone adoption in the United States has provided a boost for mobile gaming,” says Mark Donovan, a Senior Analyst at comScore. “Last year, not one Smartphone appeared in the top 10 devices used for mobile downloads. This year, six out of 10 are Smartphones."
Donovan notes also that as the mobile phone has evolved into a better platform for both playing and merchandising games, the games being offered have also been improved, drawing in a broader user base.
“Over the past year, we have seen mobile gaming expand into a broadening demographic, with strongest growth among teens, who previously eschewed their mobile device in favour of handheld gaming devices, and those 35 and older,” says Donovan.
comScore M:Metrics has also announced the results of its Mobile Benchmark Study. With the exception of ringtone purchases, which fell 1.1% from October to November 2008, all mobile content categories posted strong growth, most notably downloaded application usage (15.8% up), and access to social networking sites (14.2% up).
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