Mobile game downloads rising

30th January 2009

A growing number of mobile phone users are downloading games to their handsets, new research has revealed.

According to comScore, 8.5 million US mobile users downloaded a mobile game in November, up 17 per cent from the previous year.

This can be primarily attributed to the growing popularity of smartphones in the US, comScore senior analyst Mark Donovan said.

Six of the top ten devices used to make mobile downloads were smartphones as of November 2008, compared with none 12 months previously.

Playing a downloaded game was the seventh most popular mobile-based activity overall, with sending and receiving photos or videos coming out on top.

Accessing a downloaded application came ninth in the list.

"As the mobile phone has evolved into a better platform for both playing and merchandising games, the games being offered have also been improved, drawing in a broader user base," Mr Donovan remarked.

Playing a downloaded game was also the sixth most popular mobile-based task among UK web users in November, according to comScore, with accessing a downloaded application ranking eighth.