Thursday, October 13, 2005

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

According to a new survey by Pyramid Research of mobile phone users across the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries and the U.K., India was ranked as the top mobile game market. The study found that 32 percent of 355 respondents in India that were mobile data users play mobile games monthly, exceeding the UK mark of 15 percent.

Pyramid Research Senior Analyst Nick Holland noted "Almost a third of Indian mobile data users were restricted from mobile gaming by a lack of sophisticated handset availability." As better handsets and faster networks rollout, Pyramid predicts the Indian mobile gaming market could expand 700 percent by 2010.

Holland said, "Also noteworthy is the level of traction that occurs with India’s mobile gamers. Respondents from other countries that tried mobile gaming just once ranged between 8% and 20%; in India this figure stands at 3.9%," indicating subscribers in India are far more enthusiastic about mobile gaming. "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," advised Holland.