Wireless Gaming Revenues And Player Numbers Set To Boom, Says Datamonitor

According to forecasts from the new report – Global Wireless Gaming – combined revenues from the US, Europe and Asia Pacific markets will grow, from an estimated $950 million in 2001 to $17.5 billion in 2006. Asia Pacific currently dominates, accounting for 87% of revenues; however, by 2006, the US and Europe will have built a 40% share of the market – compared to just 13% today.

Currently estimated at $105 million, Europe’s wireless gaming market will grow to $4.2 billion in 2006. By comparison, that in the US will grow from just $20 million today to $3b billion in 2006.

Global wireless gaming revenue growth ($m)
	2001	2006
US, Europe & Asia Pacific	$950m	$17.5bn
Europe	$150m	$4.2bn
US	$20m	$3.0bn
Source: Datamonitor, 21/08/01

Globally, 120 million people are playing some kind of wireless game and numbers are set to treble, says the report. Asia Pacific is the wireless gaming capital of the globe, with 60 million wireless gamers, half of the total worldwide.

In Europe, 41 million currently play games on their mobile phones or PDAs, compared to 22 million in the US. By 2006, Europe will have over 150 million wireless gamers with Germany, followed by the UK then Italy, dominating in terms of numbers. In the US, Datamonitor estimates that the number of wireless gamers will grow to 124 million in 2006 as new devices and services bring accessible gaming entertainment to all.

Global wireless gaming user growth
	2001	2006
Global	120m	360m
Europe	41m	150m
US	22m	124m
Source: Datamonitor, 21/08/01

These gamers also frequently own a PC with internet access. More than half of mobile gamers have Net access and more than 80% of WAP phone owners use the internet. The success of downloadable ringtones and graphics will be repeated with wireless games, say Datamonitor analysts.