India Mobile Gaming Market Is On Track to Expand 700% by 2010

By Pyramid Research

According to a recent Pyramid Research survey of mobile phone users across the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries and the U.K., India ranked as the top mobile game market. Of the 355 respondents in India that identified themselves as mobile data users, 32% said that they play mobile games monthly, exceeding the UK mark of 15%.

“Almost a third of Indian mobile data users were restricted from mobile gaming by a lack of sophisticated handset availability,” says Pyramid Research Senior Analyst Nick Holland. Handsets lag behind users’ desire for data capabilities; 94% of mobile handsets in India operate on either GSM or CDMA One standards, both with minimal data capabilities. With the rollout of new handsets and networks, Pyramid Research believes the mobile gaming market could expand 700% by 2010.

“Also noteworthy is the level of traction that occurs with India’s mobile gamers” adds Holland. “Respondents from other countries that tried mobile gaming just once ranged between 8% and 20%; in India this figure stands at 3.9%.” This indicates that subscribers in India are far more enthusiastic about mobile gaming than subscribers surveyed elsewhere and once they have tried it, they tend to get hooked. “It would be wise for manufacturers and carriers to focus attention on handsets specifically designed for gaming and on the development of gaming content, particularly if it is custom-made for the Indian market,” concludes Holland.

About Pyramid Research’s BRIC Mobile Data Adoption Study
The BRIC Mobile Data Adoption Study helps quantify the mobile data market opportunity by assessing current consumer adoption levels and usage patterns for mobile data services.. Consisting of over 2500 interviews with wireless subscribers across the BRIC region and the U.K., the study gauges current mobile data usage habits, content preferences and price elasticity for new services. It helps vendors, mobile operators and content owners accurately size market demand and develop service offerings, price points and distribution channels to increase mobile data usage with current and future subscribers.