More Mobile Gamers on iPhone and BlackBerry Curve, Photo Sharing Top Acitivity, Says comScore

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comScore, reports that the number of mobile game downloaders grew 17 percent from November 2007 to November 2008, when 8.5 million people, or 3.8 percent of mobile subscribers, downloaded a game to their mobile device.

The iPhone and BlackBerry Curve have replaced the RAZR and low-end
flip phones as the most popular gaming platforms, according to
comScore. In fact, the number of smartphone owners downloading a game
nearly tripled, while dipping 14 percent among owners of feature
phones. iPhone owners accounted for 14 percent of mobile game
downloaders in November, with 32.4 percent of all iPhone users
reporting they downloaded a game in the month, compared with a market
average of 3.8 percent.

comScore M:Metrics also announced the results of its Mobile
Benchmark Study. With the exception of ringtone purchases, which fell
1.1 percent from October to November, all mobile content categories
posted strong growth, most notably downloaded application usage and
access to social networking.

"The rapid growth in smartphone adoption in the United States has provided a boost for mobile gaming, as 34 percent of those downloading a game in November did so using a smartphone," said Mark Donovan,
senior analyst, comScore. "Last year, not one smartphone appeared in
the top 10 devices used for mobile downloads. This year, six out of 10
are smartphones, excluding devices with smartphone-like functionality,
such as the Instinct and Voyager, which also make appearances."

Downloaded Mobile Game by Platform: Audience
Three-month average ending November 2007 vs. November 2008
US Mobile Phone Users (000s)
Source: comScore M:Metrics

                   November 2007 (000s)   November 2008 (000s) YoY Growth
Smartphones                   734                  2,869            291%
Non-Smartphones             6,486                  5,593            -14%
Total                       7,220                  8,463             17

"As the mobile phone has evolved into a better platform for both
playing and merchandising games, the games being offered have also been
improved, drawing in a broader user base," observed Donovan. "Over the
past year, we have seen mobile gaming expand into a broadening
demographic, with strongest growth among teens, who previously eschewed
their mobile device in favor of handheld gaming devices, and those 35
and older."

Mobile Benchmark Study Three-month average ending November 2008 US Mobile Subscribers Source: comScore M:Metrics


                                                      (% of all   % Change vs.
                                    Audience (000s)     Mobile      Month Ago
                                                     Subscribers)
    Activity
    Sent/received photos or videos        63,736         27.7            5.6
    Received SMS ads                      54,922         23.9            8.2
    Accessed news/info via browser        41,894         18.2            9.7
    Used email                            38,370         16.7            6.3
    Listened to music                     21,006          9.1            8.5
    Accessed social networking sites      20,668          9.0           14.2
    Played downloaded game                20,468          8.9            6.1
    Purchased ringtones                   19,556          8.5           -1.1
    Accessed downloaded application       18,337          8.0           15.8
    Watched Video                          7,523          3.3           +5.6

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