Tuesday, March 13, 2012

By Year End 2016, 96% of All U.S. Mobile Handset Sales Will be Smartphones

Apple iPhone 3GS, Motorola Milestone and LG GW60
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SOURCE: iGR
March 13, 2012 06:00 ET

New Research Report Forecasts by Year-End 2016, 96% of All U.S. Mobile Handset Sales Will Be Smartphones

iGR Research Majority of Growth in the U.S. Smartphone Market Segment Will Occur Prior to 2014
AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwire - Mar 13, 2012) - Within 2011 alone, U.S. users were buying considerably more smartphones than they were in 2010. By the end of the year, approximately 76 percent of handsets sold were smartphones. This is notable, as only approximately 33 percent of U.S. mobile handset sales were attributable to smartphones in 2009.
iGR's new market research report, U.S. Smartphone Forecast, 2011 - 2016, previews the expected sales for 2011-2016 both in terms of non-smartphone, and smartphone devices and mobile operating systems (OSes). Recent trends within the market are also discussed and applied to the conversation about the future of handset sales to end users through 2016.
Some of the factors that led to this increase across U.S. users include: a rise in upgrade and replacement sales as non-smartphone users transition to smartphones, enterprise user trends (more personal liable smartphones in use), advancements in mobile device hardware and software, carrier network developments (e.g., increasing 3.5G availability), and increased consumer demand for mobile devices that fit a portable, data-driven lifestyle.
These trends, and others, provide support for the upward swing in total mobile handset sales, but particularly that of smartphones, in the U.S. through 2011, and are expected to continue. In fact by 2016, iGR expects approximately 96 percent of U.S. handset sales to be comprised entirely of smartphone sales.
"The growth in the U.S. smartphone market has been very strong in the last few years," said Iain Gillott, president and founder of iGR, a market research consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile industry. "But as the market becomes saturated, smartphone sales growth will slow. For OEMs who are hoping to gain, or regain, market share in the U.S., the time to act is now. By 2014, we believe the majority of the smartphone sales growth will be over."
At present, the smartphone market has hit something of a design impasse, with all OEMs attempting to out-design Apple with a 'shiny black glass block' design approach (although materials vary, the design similarities between smartphones are amazingly small at present). And given the growth in smartphone sales together with the very high market entry costs, iGR believes it unlikely that significant new OEMs will enter the market in the next few years.
iGR anticipates that the majority of growth in the U.S. smartphone market segment will occur prior to 2014. This suggests that equipment vendors and manufacturers, as well as software developers, are likely to see the greatest gains should they enter the market earlier on. Such front-loaded expansion also indicates that certain mobile OSes, especially Apple and Android who are the current market leaders, may be better poised for sustained long-term growth than other mobile OSes who are either just entering the market or currently faltering or repositioning.
The following key questions are addressed in the new research study:
  • What were U.S. handset sales from 2009 - present?
  • What were U.S. smartphone sales from 2009 - present?
  • What are the current U.S. wireless device trends?
  • What are current U.S. wireless consumer trends?
  • What are the current trends in U.S. wireless services?
  • What are the anticipated U.S. handset sales for 2012-2016?
  • What are the expected U.S. smartphone sales for 2012-2016?
  • Which smartphone operating systems are expected to prevail in 2012-2016?
  • What are the expected sales for the major smartphone OS in the U.S. in 2012-2016?
The new report can be purchased and downloaded directly from iGR's website from the following link: U.S. Smartphone Forecast, 2011 - 2016.Alternatively, contact Amanda Louie at (512) 554-1701 or at Amandal@iGR-inc.com for additional details on this report as well as information on the Wireless and Mobile Landscape advisory service.

Betapond Partners With Intel to Make Traditional Retail Shopping More Social, Mobile, Personal


DUBLIN--()--Betapond, a VC-backed technology company specialising in Facebook mobile marketing solutions, will join Intel at the Retail Business Technology Expo this week in London’s Earls Court.
Betapond previously exhibited its suite of Facebook mobile marketing solutions at Sony Pictures Studios in Hollywood.On the Intel stand (#440), Betapond will demonstrate an interactive digital sign powered by 2nd Generation Intel® Core® i7 Platform. The digital sign will be personalised for any consumer who interacts using Facebook on their smartphone. Large retail and entertainment brands use Betapond’s mobile marketing products to convert passive footfall into engaged social consumers, deepening customer relationships.
“We’re delighted to be working with Intel to demonstrate how retailers can engage social consumers on their smartphones to personalise their in-store experience,” said Declan Kennedy, CEO of Betapond.
“Retailers are under huge pressure to engage every potential customer in their stores. Our Facebook mobile marketing products allow retailers to generate social recommendations from in-store customers and build long-term social relationships. We enable retailers to replicate online shopping experiences for in-store customers. ”
‘The pervasiveness of hand held computing, such as smart phones and tablets, merging with social media and integrating with new technologies such as NFC, Intel® Wireless Display & anonymous video analytics (AVA) are transforming the digital advertising & retail markets”, noted Rod O’Shea, Intel EMEA Regional Director. “At Intel, we see the application of technology solutions such as Betapond’s as playing a significant role in transforming the shopping experience by delivering more relevant and entertaining experiences directly to the consumer’.
“A shopper is never happier with a retail brand than when she’s shopping – so it’s a great opportunity to start a social conversation on Facebook via smartphone that continues long after she leaves the store,” Kennedy added.
The Retail Business Technology Expo takes place in London’s Earls Court on March 13-14.
The Betapond product utilises QR codes and SMS to connect shoppers’ smartphones with digital signs. The solution uses a Facebook enabled application to offer shoppers a chance to win a prize if they take a short survey, enter a treasure hunt or a complete a number of other activities. The brand can continue conversations with participating consumers and their friends through Facebook to increase footfall and ROI through enhanced social marketing.
Betapond works with leading retailers and entertainment brands in the UK, Europe and the US that have high footfall and existing, well-developed Facebook communities.
About Betapond
Betapond is a VC backed Facebook technology company that specializes in Facebook mobile marketing products for retailers. Betapond is a Facebook Preferred Developer Consultant.
About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com.
Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

The Bancorp Bank Is the New Issuer for the PayPal Debit MasterCard Card

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WILMINGTON, Del.--()--The Bancorp Bank Payment Solutions Group, a division of The Bancorp Bank (“Bancorp”), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBBK), today announced that it is the new issuer for the PayPal Debit MasterCard® card. The PayPal Debit MasterCard card can be used worldwide at ATMs, online, and everywhere Debit MasterCard is accepted. It also offers the possibility to earn 1 percent cash back whenever a cardholder is enrolled into the PayPal Preferred Rewards Program.
“Consumers want to be able to feel secure when shopping online with a debit card, and with PayPal's dedication to security, we're able to deliver a great solution with the PayPal Debit MasterCard card.”
“We are thrilled to work with PayPal to bring the PayPal Debit MasterCard card to their 106 million active users,” said Jeremy Kuiper, Managing Director – The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group. “Consumers want to be able to feel secure when shopping online with a debit card, and with PayPal's dedication to security, we're able to deliver a great solution with the PayPal Debit MasterCard card."
The PayPal Debit MasterCard card is issued by The Bancorp Bank pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated. The Bancorp Bank; Member FDIC. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.
About The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group
The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group, a division of The Bancorp Bank (“Bancorp”), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBBK), offers secure, creative and innovative payment solutions to the prepaid card industry. As a leading issuer of prepaid cards, The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group contributes to the success of Fortune 500 companies through the development of cutting-edge prepaid card programs that meet the rapidly changing needs of the prepaid industry. Through long-standing relationships with the MasterCard, Visa, and Discover card associations, leading program managers and processors, The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group designs innovative and flexible prepaid card programs which deliver outstanding results. For more information about The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group please visit www.thebancorp.com.

Event Farm Launches Groundbreaking Mobile Events App Powered by ROAM Data

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ROAM Data helps Event Farm reinvent ticketing and payment processing with its ROAMPay mobile commerce platform
BOSTON--()--ROAM Data announced today that Washington, DC-based Event Farm will use ROAM Data’s mobile platform and commerce APIs to reinvent the way in which event organizers and producers manage events, ticket inventory and ticket sales. This App, named “Event Farm”, eliminates the need for traditional box offices, delivering a totally integrated ticket management, will call, and payments process.
"What is groundbreaking about what we are doing is that our App is fully integrated into our ticketing platform. We are not just independently charging credit cards on a mobile device,” said co-founder and CEO of Event Farm, Ryan Costello. “Ticket inventories on the App are synched with sales happening in real time online and vice versa. Equally as important, this service does not require the purchase of expensive hardware – it uses mobile phones and dongles – and is secure and fast. This is a solution the events industry has been waiting for."The new App eliminates the need for fully staffed ticket windows and paper tickets. For customers, it makes the ticketing process more flexible as it eliminates the need to print tickets and meet up with others in their party before the event. All data is housed on the App. The API, which is available to event organizers and producers via Event Farm, synchronizes ticket sales via mobile devices with online inventories in real time. The platform uses ROAM’s encrypted card reader and mobile payment capabilities to enable venues to better manage inventory in real time and maximize event profits.
One of the country's premier new music venues, The Hamilton Live in Washington, DC has already signed on. "This App not only eliminated the need for a box office in our venue but it has also completely revolutionized the will call experience for our guests," said Tom Meyer, President of the Hamilton. "Our funds are available to us the next business day as all transactions are automatically batched nightly. Every part of the ticketing process is electronic and mobile. It's amazing to think this was ever done any other way."
“Event Farm’s application is the first of its kind, a potential forerunner to thousands of other POS style applications across industries,” said Ken Paull, EVP of ROAM Data, “ROAM was created to offer businesses a secure and frictionless mobile commerce experience without having to buy new hardware or change their existing business processes.”
ROAM’s encrypted reader and flexible API allows for seamless integration of secure payments into a variety of mobile applications, circumventing onerous PCI audit requirements. Both the reader and API work on iOS and Android devices.
About ROAM
ROAM Data is the leading mCommerce Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider extending physical Point of Sales (POS) and eCommerce to the mobile environment, to help merchants find and keep customers. Founded in 2005, ROAM’s solutions allow merchants to accept card payments on mobile devices, and allow consumers to easily make purchases in mobile shopping apps and ads. ROAM Data provides the total mCommerce platform including hardware peripherals, software, tools and services for merchant service providers to deliver powerful mobile commerce solutions to their merchants quickly, securely and robustly. Visit us at www.roamdata.com


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