Nokia to follow trend of mobile gaming
Written by Writer on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
Nokia to follow trend of mobile gaming
SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN
Nokia is stepping up efforts to drive its mobile gaming services following their global popularity among next-generation handset users. The move is part of the Finnish-based world market leader’s policy to move further into the services market in order to add value and more functions in the handsets.
Vipul Sabharwal, country general manager of Nokia Thailand, said the company was focusing on producing handsets powered by advanced solutions and integrated services to accommodate the new evolution of handset technology.
Nokia introduced the Nokia N-Gage mobile game service in Thailand yesterday in what it described as ”the new era of the N-Gage mobile game”.
Mr Sabharwal said the global mobile game market grew by 35% last year and was expected to continue growing by 20% over the next three to five years.
Nokia has 21 games available with nine N-Gage handset models. It has sold three million units of N-Gage handsets.
”The N-Gage phone, with a new modern font, is no longer simply a handset, but a phone to support the mobile gaming platform service,” he said.
The global internet service market for mobile phones has been forecast to be worth 100 billion euros by 2010, driven mainly by messaging services, navigation, gaming and music downloads.
In Thailand, game downloads were expected to be worth US$12 million this year, and reach $1.1 billion by 2010.
Mr Sabharwal said despite the global credit crunch and domestic political tension, it did not impact sales volume and revenue in Thailand thanks to its variety of handset models and solutions services.
He said Nokia has adjusted its product strategy by focusing on phones that fit the changing behaviour of consumers and tougher economic circumstances.
”My goal is to maintain the leading position in the local mobile handset market,” he said. ”I also aim to build up Nokia as the most admired brand among Thai consumers.”
Bangkok Post
Wednesday October 29, 2008
