Forecast: Mobile gaming poised for 25% CAGR through 2012

Mobile gaming represents the fastest growing segment of the global gaming industry with a 24.6 percent compound annual growth rate forecast for 2007 through 2012, according to a new outlook from communications strategy firm CSMG. Citing increased network access, faster broadband speeds, next-generation consoles and more capable mobile devices, TMNG contends the dramatic growth in the gaming market represents an enormous opportunity for service providers to capture greater share of the market--the report forecasts the global gaming business will reach $40 billion in annual revenues by 2012, with gaming software sales in the U.S. growing to $20 billion in 2008 from $9.4 billion in 2005.

"Service providers cannot afford to be late to the game in capturing the value created by the video games market and will need to create new business models to adequately capture the mobile gaming growth opportunities," said CSMG manager Armaghan Farooq in a prepared statement. CSMG adds that the standardization of mobile software platforms heralds the biggest opportunity for service providers seeking to capture a larger slice share of the mobile gaming pie, arguing operators should create a standards-based mobile gaming marketplace, an approach it says will encourage and incent the mobile gaming developer base by increasing gamer penetration, gaming ARPU and on-deck/off-deck sales.

For more on the CSMG forecast:
- read this release

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