Study: Mobile Game Market Slows — Carriers Consider Quality

The M:Metrics benchmark survey has focused on games this month…the number of people downloading games has dropped since last September, possibly due to a steady increase in the price of games, which now average $5.77 per download. Subscription prices have also climbed to $2.90 per month.
This is not considered a good thing…”As all carriers more aggressively promote subscription-based models, they are also testing price inelasticity by gradually inching up average pricing,” said Seamus McAteer, senior analyst at M:Metrics. “To grow the market, carriers must work in tandem with publishers to provide real value for a more expensive subscription, rather than treating it as just another pricing tactic.”
On the plus side it appears carriers are becoming more interested in the quality of games rather than the brand they’re sold under. Trip Hawkings, founder of Digital Chocolate, thinks quality is only now becoming a top priority for operators. “I don’t think carriers thought (quality) was that relevant before, but the growth has slowed…I think we’re just at that turning point now”.
From the press release it seems that mobile games are the only mobile content segment that is falling.
M:Metrics Data For Jan 06
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