Archive for the ‘Apple’ Category
2011: A Look Back at the Rise of Tablet Devices
posted by Terri KimIn 2011, there were tablets that flunked- HP TouchPad, RIM Blackberry Playbook, and the Motorola Xoom (just to name a few); there were tablets that beat the odds and flourished- Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook; and there were those that remained leaders, most notably the Apple iPad followed by the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
The International Data Corporation (IDC) estimated that Apple continued to lead the way in the tablet race with 64% tablet market share, followed by Android who captured around 35% market share in 2011, on average. Compare these figures to the previous year when Apple captured around 85% of the market.
And while Android tablet devices, most notably the recently released Kindle Fire, continue to gain in popularity this year, iPads continue to dominate tablet web traffic. According to comScore, 97.2% of all tablet traffic in the US came from iPads in 2011, a number slightly higher than the amount of Internet traffic from iPhones.
So what were users doing on their tablets in 2011? According to AdMob (Google), tablets were used primarily for 1) Playing games; 2) Searching for info on the Web; and 3) Emailing. Other activities included shopping, reading e-books, and consuming entertainment. The study also found that 43% of tablet users spend more time on their tablets than on their desktops/laptops.
It’s an understatement to say that tablets are growing in popularity. In 2010, there were 17.4 million tablet shipments. The following year, the number of tablet shipments more than quadrupled with 72 million tablets shipped worldwide. In 2012, it is estimated that tablet shipments will grow to 95 million units, surpassing netbook sales; and in 2015- 262.1 million units, a 1,442% increase in 5 years.
With the tablet market predicted to surpass $2 billion in worth by the end of 2012, the competition for a piece of the tablet market will be more intense than ever before.
2011: Top 10 Facts about the US Smartphone Market
posted by Terri Kim2011 was a dynamic year of growth for mobile. The following 10 facts summarize the highlights of the US smartphone industry in 2011:
1. By the end of November, there were over 234 million Americans (age 13 and older) who used mobile devices.
2. Over 91.4 million people owned smartphones in the US compared to the 63.2 million in 2010, an increase of over 44% (study by comScore).
3. Smartphone penetration in the US was close to 44%, up from 25% in 2010.
4. Over 62% of 25-34 year olds who owned mobile phones owned smartphones in 2011, up from 41% in 2010. Following behind, 54% of 18-24 year olds owned smartphones in 2011 (study by Nielsen).
5. Google Android was the most popular OS claiming 46% market share, followed by Apple iOS with 28%.
6. The Apple iPhone was the most sought-after smartphone device based on the fact that the only phones that are powered by iOS are iPhones. In the third quarter of 2011, the top 3 best-selling phones in the US were the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and HTC EVO 4G, according to The NPD Group.
7. Close to 7% of all US Web traffic was from smartphones and tablets, with smartphones accounting for about 2/3 of this figure (study by comScore). iOS devices accounted for around 58% of non-computer online traffic while Android accounted for 32%.
8. In 2011, the most popular activity amongst smartphone users was texting or messaging (70%), followed by emailing (60%), social networking (50%), talking on the phone (43%), and then surfing the Web (40%) (study by CloudTalk).
9. 38% of mobile subscribers downloaded apps. Among the smartphone users who downloaded apps, 83% had either an Android or iPhone device.
10. In December 2011, an average of 1.5 million smartphones were downloaded each day. On December 25th, however, it was estimated that more than 6.8 million iOS & Android devices were activated (study from Flurry).
The smartphone industry flourished in 2011, and will continue to experience growth in the new year; it is predicted that smartphones will outsell PCs in 2012 (according to multiple industry sources). So here’s to another great year in mobile!
2011: A Look Back at the Leading Mobile App Stores
posted by Terri KimIt’s been an exciting year for mobile with milestones and developments aplenty, and as the year comes to an end, we’d like to reflect back on some of the highlights of the mobile industry. First, let’s take a closer look at the two leading app marketplaces- the Apple App Store and Android Market.
Today, there are more than 1 million apps in the major app stores, according to Mobilewalla, with Apple App Store and Android Market accounting for around 91%. The App Store leads with over 590,000 apps, followed closely behind by Android Market with over 380,000 apps. Apps in Amazon Appstore, Blackberry App World, Nokia Ovi Store, and Windows Phone Marketplace account for the remaining 9% of apps.
Image courtesy of Apple
Apple App Store
The popularity of apps has grown tremendously in a short period of time. It was only three years ago in July 2008 that Apple released their App Store, the first of its kind, with 500 apps and 0 downloads. In one year, the App Store grew over 10,000% to have over 55,000 apps and over 1 billion downloads. And in two years, the App Store grew to have over 225,000 apps and over 5 billion downloads. In July 2011, the App Store had over 425,000 apps and over 15 billion downloads worldwide. According to Mobilewalla, an average of 745 apps are released daily.
Currently, there are over 590,000 apps which have been downloaded over 18 billion times in the App Store- an increase of 162% and 260% in App Store size and downloads, respectively, in a little over a year.
Image courtesy of Google
Android Market
Android Market, on the other hand, was released by Google in October 2008. In March 2009, Android Market had around 2,300 apps available. A little over a year later in August 2010, there were over 80,000 apps available and 1 billion downloads. In July 2011, the Android Market grew to 250,000 apps and over 6 billion downloads. 543 apps on average are released daily, according to Mobilewalla.
Currently, there are over 380,000 apps and over 10 billion downloads in the Android Market- an increase of 375% and 900% in Android Market size and downloads, respectively, in a little over a year.
Free Apps
While the App Store leads in the number of apps and downloads, Android Market is a leader in free apps. Out of the hundreds of thousands of apps in the Android Market, over 67% are free compared to the 37% of apps in the App Store. In fact, Windows Phone Marketplace follows behind the Android Market with 52%.
Revenue
A recent study conducted by Distimo, an app store analytics firm, found that iPhone apps in the App Store generate 4 times as much revenue as apps in the Android Market do. They found this figure by examining the top 200 grossing apps of 2011. Distimo also found that half of the revenue from the top 200 grossing apps in the App Store came from apps that follow the “freemium” business model- free apps that collect revenue by offering exclusive or advanced content- compared to the 65% of revenue that “freemium” apps in the Android Market produced.
Another study from Piper Jaffray, a leading middle-market investment bank, concluded that the App Store controls around 85 to 90% of total app revenue market share, producing around $3.4 billion in revenue for developers compared to the $240 million in revenue in the Android Market.
While results may vary, what is known is that the mobile app industry is lucrative.
What’s Next for Mobile Apps
It’s truly amazing to see how fast apps have grown in these few years- from zero apps to over one million, from no app stores to dozens, and from zero app downloads to over tens of billions, the popularity and profitability of mobile apps is undeniable. We’re looking forward to what lies ahead for the mobile industry in 2012.
Mobile Roadie app featured in App Store Rewind 2011!
posted by Terri Kim
The top artist of 2011, according to Billboard Magazine, is none other than Adele. With an album that spent 13 weeks on top of the Billboard 200, sold more than 13 million copies worldwide, and garnered 6 Grammy nominations, Adele is a music phenomenon who is exploding not only in the music industry but in the mobile world as well.
It was only a few months ago that Adele launched her official mobile app powered by Mobile Roadie, but already it is being recognized not just by fans but by industry experts as well. The App Store editorial team has chosen the official Adele app as one of 2011′s best apps, featuring it on the front page under the Music apps category of App Store Rewind 2011 (iTunes France).
The official Adele app is featured alongside popular interactive music apps djay for iPhone & iPod, Songify, and Tap DJ, as well as Biophilia, which is Bjork’s interactive studio album in the form of an app that cost 3 to 4 times more than a regular album.
We’re honored to be chosen as one of the best apps in the App Store, and congratulations to Adele. To download her app, visit http://road.ie/adele
What’s the Mobile App Market Worth?
posted by Terri Kim
By 2015, International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that 182.7 billion mobile apps will be downloaded, close to a 1600% increase from the 10.7 billion apps downloaded in 2010. This impressive figure can be attributed to increases in smartphones and apps- both free and paid- that will continue to occur in the mobile market.
The top two app stores on the market today- Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market- account for 19.5 billion apps downloaded so far.
Apple’s App Store
Figure 1: Courtesy of Apple, Inc
In the App Store, which currently has over 425,000 different apps for download, 15 billion apps have been downloaded, up 50% from 10 billion in January 2011 and up 400% from 3 billion in January 2010. Reports indicate that the average iOS device owner will buy 61% more apps in 2011 than a year ago, totaling 83 app downloads this year, and be willing to pay 14% more for paid apps than a year ago. 82% of mobile apps for download are free.
Google’s Android Market
Figure 2: Courtesy of Google, Inc
In the Android Market, which is home to over 200,000 apps, 5 billion apps have been downloaded since launching in 2008, up 50% from 3 billion in May 2011 and up 350% from 1 billion downloads in August 2010. In just under two months from May to July 2011, over a billion apps for Android were downloaded.
Time Spent on Mobile Apps
And with all these downloads, it makes sense that smartphone users are spending more time using mobile apps than surfing the Web, according to a recent study by Flurry. Time spent on mobile apps per user jumped 88% to 81 minutes from June 2010 to June 2011, while time spent web browsing only increased 16%.
Figure 3: Courtesy of Flurry
In Conclusion
The mobile app market is expected to be worth $14.1 billion next year and jump 160% to $36.7 billion in revenue from direct sales, in-app purchases and mobile app advertising in 2015. However, these estimates may be understated given the tremendous growth of the mobile app industry in recent years.
Smartphones in the US and Beyond
posted by Terri Kim
Whether it’s checking your email, logging in to your favorite social site or downloading a new app, it’s safe to say that those who own smartphones like having access to the Internet in the palm of their hands. So it’s no surprise that smartphones are becoming more prevalent in U.S. households. A recent study from Pew Internet Project revealed that out of the 83% of US adults who own cell phones, 42% own smartphones, roughly 77 million people. To put this into perspective, 35% of all US adults own a smartphone, and this figure isn’t expected to decrease anytime soon. So while the US may be a smartphone hotspot, how does the smartphone market look in other parts of the world? Let’s take a look.
Asia
Asia is the largest mobile market in the world, and with that the land of endless opportunity for those in the mobile industry. With highly advanced tech countries like Japan and South Korea who were developing smartphones before they were popular in the U.S., and with the sheer amount of people in countries such as China and India, Asia is a mobile market wonderland. In China alone, out of the 900 million cellphone users, 20% own or plan to buy smartphones. Recognizing China’s large presence in the mobile market, we are excited to launch in China at the end of August.
But China isn’t Mobile Roadie’s first foray into Asia; we first made our mark in Asia by way of Japan. In addition to creating apps for some of Japan’s popular celebrities and musicians, we also developed an app for food leader Matsuya Foods Group (松屋フーズ). Below are screenshots of MoRo apps for popular Japanese girl groups Idoling!!! and Shibuhara
Europe
Europe’s smartphone market is growing rapidly, with the U.K, France and Italy leading the way. According to comScore, the smartphone market in Europe grew 41% in the past year. In 2010, the smartphone market in the U.K. experienced 70% growth to over 11 million subscribers, France experienced a 48% increase in smartphone adoption, while Italy had the largest number of smartphone users totaling over 15 million. Spain and Germany, in addition to these three European countries, total over 60 million smartphone users.
With MoRo representatives in Paris, Barcelona, and Milan, and an office in London’s “Silicon Roundabout”, we have already established our presence in Europe, and continue our position as the world’s leading app platform.
What this means
The International Data Corporation predicts that 472 million smartphones will be shipped worldwide in 2011 compared to the 305 million phones that were shipped in 2011, representing a 54% increase in one year. By 2015, it is predicted that over 982 million smartphones will be shipped all over the world- that’s close to one billion people who will be able to use phones to surf the Web, stream music and videos, download apps, and a host of other capabilities.
What’s the Mobile Music App Market Worth?
posted by Terri KimThe mobile music industry was worth $14.4 billion last year with revenue coming from ringtone, ringback tone, full track download, and music streaming purchases, according to MIDEM.
Ringtones and ringback tones accounted for $9.7 billion of total revenue, while full track downloads accounted for $3.4 billion and music streaming totaled $1.4 billion of total revenue; however, Informa Telecoms & Media predicts that full track downloads will see the strongest growth over the coming years. By 2014, mobile music revenue will total $25.3 billion, with the largest percentage of revenue coming from full track downloads.
Figure 1: Data courtesy of Informa Telecoms & Media
The Mobile Music App Market
“The biggest blow [to traditional mobile music providers] has been the new world order ushered in by the rise of smartphone apps and the “over the top” players from the online and computer worlds…It is these mobile outsiders that now dominate the mobile content scene.” – MIDEM
The number of music apps in the mobile market is growing. In two years, the Apple App Store saw an increase of 270% in the number of music apps, from 496 apps in January 2009 to 13,912 apps in January 2010. And it’s not just the number of music apps that has been increasing- the number of smartphone users who download music apps is growing as well.
Why the popularity of music apps is growing
What separates music apps from traditional mobile music providers is content interaction. Users can immediately download music apps, and then stream and even download full tracks straight to their smartphones. Music apps that feature artists allow fans to interact with their favorite musicians and other fans on a more intimate level, encouraging a sense of community.
What’s cooler for a Katy Perry fan than to talk with other KatyCats and receive updates from Katy Perry herself, all while listening to “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)?
The value in music apps
In 2010, mobile apps alone generated $4 billion in revenue. Music apps in the leading app stores- Apple App Store and Android Market- on average, accounted for 3.9% of total apps by January 2011. And not just music fans are seeing the value in downloading mobile apps; record labels see “the value of [creating] mobile applications as a means of encouraging music fans to interact with their artists”.
Mobile Roadie / The Beatles LOVE / Cirque du Soleil 5th Anniversary Promotion
posted by Michael Schneider (Mobile Roadie CEO)Like Las Vegas? Love the Beatles? Want to see a free Cirque du Soleil show?
Announcing The Beatles LOVE 5th anniversary promotion, in cooperation with Cirque du Soleil and the Beatles.
Watch the video below. Grab The Beatles LOVE app, powered by Mobile Roadie. Scan the QR code using the app’s built in QR code scanner, and win amazing prizes, including free tickets, merch, and the grand prize: a weekend in Vegas including airfare, hotel, and 2 tickets to LOVE. The contest is open to US residents only.
Announcing The Beatles LOVE iPhone App
posted by Michael ArcandMobile Roadie is proud to announce the debut of The Beatles LOVE app. In partnership with Apple Corps and Cirque du Soleil, we’ve built an app for the release of the new LOVE album as well as the All Together Now film being released on iTunes.
This app makes you feel like you’re at the LOVE show in Vegas, delivered right to your iPhone or iPad. From within the app you can buy tickets to the show, listen to clips from the album, buy individual songs or the entire album via iTunes, and more.
The Love INSIDER is a digital guide of the show, including cast, crew, and creators. Also available are video clips from many scenes, and a photo gallery. Social interaction is provided through Facebook and Twitter components built into the app.
You can join the mailing list for more Beatles news and get the latest ticket offers and promotions from Cirque du Soliel.
Download The Beatles LOVE app today for free: http://road.ie/beatles
What iPhone 4 Means for Apps
posted by Michael Arcand
The new iPhone 4 was officially announced at the WWDC 2010 earlier this week by Steve Jobs during his keynote speech. Here are some of the highlights of the new iPhone 4 features and what they mean for Mobile Roadie, and more importantly, you, our customers.
First, Steve addressed a common misconception that has been bantered around lately, in terms of market segmentation between the iPhone and other mobile smartphones:
“I’d like to give you two pieces of data to help you make your own judgments. The first is a report that just came out from Nielsen: what is the marketshare in the US? RIM is #1 with 35%. iPhone is #2 with 28%, WinMo #3 with 19%, Android 9%. Nielson says iPhone is over 3x that of Android.”
He also mentioned that in the US, over 58% of all mobile browser usage takes place on the iPhone. So if you are looking to hit the ground running with a mobile app, the iPhone is the way to go. And if you want to hit the iPhone and Android platforms at the same time, Mobile Roadie is here for you.
Another key point that Jobs made is that there is a huge ecosystem of current users out there, ready for your mobile app. In fact, there are already 100 million iOS devices out in the hands of consumers, representing a great opportunity for anyone who is pushing a mobile app on the Apple platform.
One feature we’re really excited about here is the new screen resolution of the iPhone 4: 960 x 640 at 326dpi, which represents 78% of what the iPad offers, right in the palm of your hand. Steve Jobs compared this to the human eye’s ability to perceive pixels, called retina display. According to Jobs, the human eye can only “see” around 300dpi at 10-12 inches away. In essence, this means the display on the new iPhone is as crisp and clear as the human eye can see. This means your apps will significantly improve in visual quality. This will have a big impact on our customers who utilize the picture and video sharing features within our CMS, such as photographers, artists, and filmmakers. The bottom line is that graphics will look incredible; basically like a magazine picture (same resolution).
When you couple this new display resolution with the sheer upgrade in power behind the iPhone 4, the results are going to be amazing. The new processor used in the iPhone 4 is a 1 GHz chipset with 512 MB of RAM on board. Compared to the iPhone 3GS with its 600 MHz and 250 MB of RAM, this represents almost a double in computing power. This should equate to a significant increase in speed, as well as powering the multitasking capabilities of the iOS 4 operating system. You thought 3G was fast? Wait until you see this bad boy in action.
The bottom line for you, our customer, is that the iPhone 4 will showcase your business in a better way than ever before, opening up opportunities for better quality video and photos as well as faster load times and multitasking your app in the background. Of course, we’re already working on enhancing key UI elements to take advantage of the increased pixel count. At Mobile Roadie, we’re a design-focused platform, and will take full advantage of the retina display to make a visual impact.
We’ll be here all the way to support your app and your business into the next iPhone revolution.
(Note: While the iPhone itself was the bulk of the presentation at WWDC, there were aspects of the iOS 4 discussed as well. You can check out our post on the new iPhone operating system here.)
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