Mobile Groove

A new fact-packed report from Chetan Sharma confirms that the global mobile industry is still the most vibrant and fastest growing sector on the planet.

• Total global mobile revenues are forecast to hit $1.5 trillion in 2012, which is equal to over 2 percent of global GDP.
• The report also found that 2012 will be the first year that non-messaging data revenues make up the majority of the overall global data revenue (53 percent). SOURCE: http://www.chetansharma.com/GlobalMobileMarketUpdate2012.htm

Chetan Sharma also does the math to show penetration of mobile phones is greater than any other technology, and more accessible than safe drinking water and electricity.

• In fact, mobile devices are now “exceeding traditional computers in unit sales and revenue.” In the U.S., for example, 70 percent of device sales are now smartphones. Overall, Samsung and Apple now account for half of the smartphone unit share and 90 percent of the profit share.
• Upgrades and new devices are most likely to trigger consumers to start shopping. Almost half (48 percent) of consumers purchased their phone because they were eligible for an upgrade while 31 percent purchased because they wanted the latest and greatest device.
• SOURCE: http://www.chetansharma.com/GlobalMobileMarketUpdate2012.htm

Android has a serious monetization problem according to a new report from Flurry.

• The eye-opener: For every dollar of iOS revenue, developers only get 24 cents from Android.
• Flurry hints lack of a seamless payment system is to blame. Google Wallet, a new mobile payments system, was supposed to help solve this problem — but doesn’t. Peter Farago, VP of Marketing at Flurry explains: ”Google Wallet has limited penetration; there is commerce friction. Compare this to other platforms. With iOS, you can link your phone to your iTunes account and download an app with one click.”
• SOURCE: http://blog.flurry.com/bid/79061/App-Developers-Bet-on-iOS-over-Android-this-Holiday-Season

Where is the real opportunity? App analytics company Flurry reports that video and photo apps are setting new growth records.

• In fact, photo and video was the biggest growing app category outside games between October 2011 and March this year.
• In terms of minutes spent per active user, the category increased by 89 percent, followed by music at 72 percent.
• SOURCE: http://blog.flurry.com/bid/84831/Mobile-App-Growth-Led-by-Video-Sharing-YouTube-in-the-Crosshairs

And finally — another survey report that confirms mobile marketing goes a long way toward increasing revenue in the retailing sector.  According to ABI Research’s Technology Barometer:

• 45 percent of smartphone users with a retailer-branded app visit the retailer’s store more often.
• But only 25 percent of the respondents had downloaded a retailer-branded app.
• SOURCE: http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1011962

Editor’s note:

MobileGroove has partnered with éclat Marketing — a company that has consistently delivered breakthrough PR campaigns based on a deep understanding of developments impacting mobile, technology, and our society at all levels — to bring you Mobile Data Points. This regular feature, which will highlight the mobile reports and insights you need to know to plan and run your business, is curated by Sophie Young, a member of the éclat team who has a passion for mobile trends, apps and her BlackBerry. If you have a report or survey you think should be included in this regular roundup, then reach out to Sophie directly via email sophie@eclat.co.uk or Twitter (@PheeYoung).

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• M-Pulse: Chetan Sharma Talks Mobile Commerce, Payments & 2012 Mobile Predictions Survey Results(mobilegroove.com)

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• Mobile data is growing, but voice & sms slowing (gigaom.com)