Mobile gaming on wireless devices has grown in popularity as more and more gamers buy into the ability to enjoy advanced gaming regardless of where they are located. This uptake has also opened up an entirely new ball field for the market and is giving all kinds of players a chance at bat. Revenue opportunities are strong for game developers, service providers and handset manufacturers alike.

 

Research firm IDC (News - Alert) found in a recent study, US Wireless Gaming 2006-2010, that mobile game purchasers will increase by 16 percent annually and will have a substantial affect on revenues by the end of the decade-- with 50 million customers by 2010.

 

Mobile gaming has taken ground in the past few years as new technologies like 3G networks and better software to support the systems are introduced. Also, enhanced handsets and better pricing for the offerings are making gaming even more enticing.

 

IDC's study revealed that teens and adults under 24 made up the core of the gaming world. Eleven percent of the respondents said they purchased at least one game for their wireless device in the 3Q06, and spent an average of $13.00 on wireless games.

 

And while gamers are currently opting for onetime purchases of game for their wireless devices, the IDC study also found that subscriptions to wireless games will increase by the end of the decade. According to a recent report, IDC is predicting that as revenues grow for subscriptions, the price per mobile games will rise to more than $2.50 by 2010.

 

 

Lewis Ward research manager for IDC's mobile Consumer services Entertainment service commented in a statement, "Flexible discovery and billing mechanisms are emerging trends making mobile game purchases easier and more attractive to consumers."