MOBILE GAMES
SPURS ON DATA GROWTH
Copyright 2004 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ October 7th 2004 ]
If
outsourcing is today's sunrise industry in IT,
it's close to high noon for data services in the
wireless segment. According to a joint study by
AT Kearne, Cambridge University and Mobinet, around
41 percent of the global wireless users are expected
to use mobile data services daily within the next
year. It's evident that operators have recognized
the revenue potential that data services can bring
in. Though the current revenues being generated
by the non-voice services are not meatier than
the voice-based services, operators have brought
in a fresh crop of prospects offering various
wireless-related entertainment services. Among
them is wireless gaming, which is conjuring up
the market wildly.
Adding
feathers in this wireless gaming ecosystem are
the carriers that are providing next generation
networks. Hutch, has recently announced its plans
to provide EDGE service (GSM subscribers) for
better voice and data transfers. Also CDMA 2000
1xEV DO have been in place for quite some time.
Color phones with General Packet Radio Services
(GPRS) for high-speed Internet access that allows
better browsing and easier downloading of games
are also becoming popular with customers. However,
operators can make this service user-friendly
only by providing top 10 games, user preferences,
ease of downloads and clear instructions to follow.
Games
such as Tom Clancy Splinter Cell and Lara Croft
Tomb Raider are gaining popularity and selected
range of consumers are willing to fork out the
extra money to pay for premium games. With the
demand thus seen in consumers downloading and
playing games, there seems an accelerating need
for feature-rich handsets. Betting high on this
demand, equipment manufacturers are introducing
advanced multimedia phones, convergence chipsets,
enhanced PDA's and many more into the market.
If
better marketing, lower data prices, greater service
availability, faster transmission speeds, richer
handset features and more intuitive user interfaces
were to add colors to this picture, it would mean
a revenue of Rs 14,800 crore in India - of course,
by the end of 2008 - as per the Gartner report.
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