Mobile Trends India 2013 – Smart Insightsretailemall.com /blog/mobile-trends-india-2013-insights/

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We proudly boast off the name crowned to our eon – ‘The Thumb Generation’. Our thumbs are constantlyon the move performing so many activities every hour, each minute and each second! Texting,whatsapping, gaming and, not to forget, shopping! Wireless communication and held-hand devices havedominated our lives and thankfully will carry on doing so, with enhanced intensity, for a number of decadesto come.

In the last 10 years India has undergone a massive revolution. Mobile phones have entered every sphereof our life. Mobile Apps have made our life convenient and easy, centring all our needs to just a single clickon the mobile phone.

What are Mobile Apps or Mobile Applications?

Aptly termed as “Nuggets of Magic” by the world famous genius Steve Jobs, these mobile apps are smallsoftware applications, especially designed to run on mobile phones, tablets and like. Mobile Apps servedifferent purposes like social networking, gaming, planners, etc. Occupying minimal space in your phonememory, the different mobile applications graphically take up the area of a small 1 x 1 square on yourcell phone screen. These small squares or icons hold the entire magic. Just a tap on the icon can get youinstant access to every corner of the world.

There are various stores which provide thousands and millions of mobile apps, some free and some paid.

Apple App Store, Google Play, Blackberry App world and Windows Phone Store are a few examples ofapp markets from where mobile apps can be downloaded within seconds.

Mobile apps come handy in performing various daily tasks. For your every chore there is an app. Youneed to transfer data, you have an app. You want to check the weather, you have an app. You want tolisten music, you have an app. You want to burn some calories, you have an app. You want to book airtickets, you have an app. You name it and it’s there to serve any and every purpose.

Before we proceed to the core motive of the article and dig into the detailed stats and figures of mobileusage trends in India, let us know why this information is important for successful as well as potentialbusiness owners like you.

The Mobile Phone Story

Going back in time to a few decades before today, when mobile phones were an item of luxury and not anecessity, like it is nowadays. The PCs were then in vogue. Almost every house had its own personalcomputer and, thus, LAN connection made its way conveniently to the homes of a large chunk of theworld’s population. Top retailers and hot shot brands realized the unlimited potential of online advertisingand setting up online businesses through the medium of websites. The trend of online marketing took birth.It was a picture perfect plan; minimal investment, vast audience and pouring profits. Soon after thesuccessful acceptance of this new trend, a number of companies started investing their capitals in websitedevelopment and focussed on getting online sales. In a matter of a few years every major brand had aparallel online setup, many small and big business owners adopted the e-sale strategy and many newentrepreneurs directly opted for sole online setups for retail and business.

But as a market tradition, technology never stays undeterred. Change is inevitable. After a few decades oftriumph and success, when things started to sail smoothly, the market was struck with another trend. Themobile revolution! Easy availability, less cost, enhanced portability and multifarious features on mobilephones put an end to the Personal Computer era. Mobile internet and the convenient ‘touch function’ of thesmart phones enabled more and more users to afford the technology and make use of online markets. Thesudden shift from the ‘PC era’ to the ‘Mobile Phone era’ posed a major problem to the online retailers.

The table clearly shows the visible global shift from the wide-spread use of PCs to mobile phones, inparticular, smart phones.

The online setups and websites that were made keeping in mind the wide 13-15 inch screens of laptopswere now being operated from small 4-5 inch mobile screens. It was a complete disaster. Frequentzooming in and zooming out to operate a website can be very frustrating! This is the time when mobileapplications came in to save the day.

Many retailers realized that without convenient mobile apps their business setup could go down in thedumps. Then started the pouring in the easy-to-use mobile apps, a simple replica of online websites, whichkept the mobile revolution growing to an unimaginable level.

As mobile apps started gaining popularity initially, the co-founder and then chairman and CEO of AppleInc., Steve Jobs was the first one to foresee this change in tides. Highly impressed by the versatility ofmobile applications and their unlimited benefits to the user, Steve opened the first popular app store- AppleApp Store. And hence began the journey up the ladder of success.

Now all these events were centred around United Nations and its neighbouring countries. The reason whythe alpha to beta of mobile app trends was narrated is so that you take a lesson and do not miss a singleopportunity to take your business to the zenith of success with the application of right ideas at the right

time. And the right time is now!!

India is continuously ascending up the ladder of mobile revolution and more and more users are adoptingmobile-based purchases. Mobile Apps and Mobile internet are gaining more and more acceptance withevery passing day. The PC era in India and almost the entire Asia is now at its final stage and will soon beon its way out. A considerable portion of the Indian population has shifted from the use of feature phones tosmart phones. However, the penetration of Mobile internet is yet to take place. The use of mobile apps is invogue and the viral will extend its arms more and more in the years to come. Now is the time to be a partof the mobile revolution and make the best of this coming opportunity wave.

In the nutshell, here are 5 top reasons why mobile revolution is important for your business:

The Smartphone Viral:

With every passing day the number of Smartphone users is multiplying by a great factor. Of 4 billionmobile phones being used globally, 1.08 billion are Smartphones, and this figure is on a continuousupward trend. 20-30% of these users are adamant mobile-shopping purchasers whereas a large chunk ofremaining portion use their Smartphones for surfing websites. Individuals are shifting from feature phonesto Smartphones at a tremendous pace, in India as well as in all other countries.

Increased Website Hits:

As more and more individuals are opting for Smartphones, having a mobile website working parallel toyour online setup can be a jackpot deal. Mobile apps and websites can help you attract a lot of traffic toyour website, having a twofold impact on your website visits.

Added Customer Convenience:

Mobile websites allow your customers to make their purchases on the go. With just a single tap on thescreen, the order is placed and ready to be shipped. What else could a customer ask for? The added

convenience and ease in placing orders within seconds over smartphones will have a direct effect on yournumber of your sales.

The login is simple, Increased Convenience = Increased Sales = Increased Profits

Enhanced Customer Interaction

With the boon of mobile applications at your disposal, connecting with your clients and potential customershas become extremely convenient. Adding the services of posting product reviews, sales alerts, discountcoupons and customer feedback can now be highlighted to a greater extent, than that in case of online andoffline advertisements.

The Small Screen Catch

One of the biggest advantages of mobile revolution is that you no longer need to apply any tactics to attractattention to particular content. On a wide computer screen, it is very difficult to highlight all the importantcontent to your visitors. Organizing and positioning of content using becomes very difficult. However, smallmobile screens rule out this problem. You can display discount schemes, new stocks, changes andupdates in your mobile website or application.

India being on a very initial stage of this mobile revolution, gives you a huge, however short-spanned,window of opportunity where you can take your business to unimaginable heights with the use of mobileapps and mobile websites.

Taking on a more figurative view of the scenario, let us analyze the global mobile trends with some statsand numbers at hand.

Global Mobile Trends

One of the best ways to estimate the inexplicable reach of mobile phones these days is by analyzing thescenario in the remote areas of the world. In isolated areas of the world where even sanitary provisions failto penetrate, we witness prevalent use of mobile phones! Individuals are readily opting for mobile servicesand leaving behind the old trends.

The number of mobile subscriptions in use till date offer a staggering figure. It is estimated that by the endof this year, the number of mobile-cellular subscriptions will reach a number equal to the number of peopleon the planet. Mobile industry is running high on sales and its widespread reach is further triggering thetrend of mobile internet.

The figure here indicates the yearly rise of mobile-subscriptions on the global front. It will help you get anidea of the vast audience mobile phones communicate with today and what the scenario will turn out to bein the coming years. The mobile usage trend can be easily analyzed.

Mobile Internet Adaptation

Mobile Internet may be called the by-product of theraging mobile phone trend in vogue these days.Firstly, let us understand what we mean by the term'Mobile Internet' and what significance it holds for you.

Mobile Internet refers to the usage of web services,also known as world wide web services, using mobiledevices. Mobile internet enables mobile users tooperate internet functionalities over their mobile phone, as they would do using a personal computer,laptop or the like.

Why do you need to know about Mobile Internet?

Mobile Internet is now reigning over the entire world with its exquisite features of easy accessibility,versatility and instant connectivity.

1) On a Global Scale

From a total in 2.4 billion active users of internet, a whooping figure of 1.5 billion is solely dedicated tomobile internet users, either primary or secondary. The number of PC users is day by day beingoverhauled by the number of smartphone users. It is a matter of just a few years, or maybe months, whenPCs will take a backseat and smartphones will be the sole medium for making online purchases fromecommerce stores. Android enabled devices are gaining more importance as compared to Windows-powered devices. It is expected that by 2016, Android will overtake Windows with 2.3 billion devices in itskitty.

The graph shows the optimistic trend in the growth of mobile internet users from 2008-2012. 2013 trendsshow a similar picture, with better figures and an increased graph slope.

If we talk about US, retailing is now being replaced by M-tailing which takes up 11% of the total e-tailing inUS in the year 2012. It is expected that the figure will further rise to 24% by the year 2016.

From the following table we can clearly see the tremendous growth of Smartphone and tablet users in theinternet world. Dropping the figure of traditional PC users by 10%, the table tells an optimistic story for thehand-held devices. In smartphones, we can visibly notice the triumph of iPhone and Android throughoutthe 4 quarters of 2012, passing on their legacy to 2013.

Here is a mind-blowing figure which shows the rise in mobile internet users as compared to PC web users:

Source: http://fredericgonzalo.com

Year 2013 has already witnessed the upsurge of mobile web and downfall of the PC era. In the comingyears the trend of mobile internet is estimated to continually rise, keeping the PC usage at bare minimal.

Today mobile users roughly constitute of a almost 20% of the world's population. Take a look at the globalscenario of the world's distribution of mobile penetration.

Source: http://fredericgonzalo.com

Of the 5.9 billion mobile phone users in the world, 30% of them reside in only China and India. Having

such a vast potential of mobile phone users, India is on the verge of a vast business upheaval.

2) In India

India has a well spread system of the mobile network. Even in rural areas, where basic amenities find ithard to pave in, mobile phones have found their place. Having over 160 million internet users, reaching theIndian audience has become very convenient. From the 160 million internet connections, 86 million usersbelong to the mobile internet category. Undoubtedly, mobile phones is the easiest way to connect with allkinds of audience, belonging to all age-groups, demographic areas, cultural backgrounds, etc.

The recent craze of smartphones and the mobile internet has kept millions of Indians captivated. Here is agraphical distribution of mobile users coming from different age groups and their estimated time spent ondifferent activities.

Source: www.digimouth.com

An individual spends a considerable amount of time using his smartphone for various activities.

The ever-growing 3G network with around 22 million users and the upcoming 4G technology have mademobile internet more accessible and penetrable among the Indian audience. In contrast to the 60 millionPC users in the country, we have 36 million smartphone users.

Let us take a look at the variation in the numbers of mobile internet users and desktop web users from overthe past few years:

The visible rise in the number of mobile internet users give us a clear indication to move our focus fromsimple online website setups to parallel compact mobile apps and other mobile related services.

Success Stories: Watch and Learn

The best way to learn is by demonstration! Let us make the most of some of the coolest mobile web appsby popular brands and big hotshots, that took their businesses soaring high in the sky!

Global HotShots

Starting with the global leaders, we take a look at the famous brands and how their mobile apps operate.

1) Starbucks

The leading coffee brand 'Starbucks' takes away the limelight with the most fun and exciting mobile webapp. Adding the elements of fun and excitement, Starbucks has successfully conquered and excelled in themobile advertising trends and approaches.

Here is a look to the Starbucks mobile application:

Source: Starbucks.com

The mobile application acts as a user Starbucks Card. The app allows paymentof bills by scanning and alongside provides rewards to its customers in terms ofStarbucks points.

Apart from this easy pay technology, the Starbucks mobile application alsohelps locate nearby stores where the required order can be collected from.

This unique, yet easy mobile business idea gives the customers addedreliability and comfort. Thereby, all these factors contribute to the popularity ofStarbucks app and it's share in the daily sales.

2) Dunkin' Donuts

The all in one pack of Dunkin' Donuts mobile application brings all the important features and functions toa hand-held screen. Offering discounts and offers, store locators, menu cards and what not!

The one the go mobile app makes purchase very easy, keeping the sales graph climbing higher andhigher.

3) Barclay

Barclay is yet another example of a successful mobile application company. It allows its users to get aninstant one tap access to their accounts, to make easy transfers, payments, etc. A perfect example of howthe mobile business can effectively used in the banking sector.

India

1) Book My Show

In the Indian websites, Bookmyshow is perhaps themost successful example that one can quote. Theonline website of www.bookmyshow.com has beenpopular choice for booking tickets for shows, eventsand movies. It contributes to 80% of online ticketingand 10% of overall box-office booking. However, withthe launch of its mobile web app its bookings havereached a level like never before.

Source: bookmyshow.in

The multi-feature mobile application allows its usersto get a complete access of every detail pertaining toticket booking. You can check the trailers, availablevenues, available seats and much more. Withinseconds you can book a ticket with the boon ofsmartphone at your disposal.

Bookmyshow aptly terms this quick and easyexperience as 'The Pocket Booking Evolution'. Thesales graph of Bookmyshow is a clear indicator ofhow the mobile business can boost your sales andtake your business to a completely new level ofcompetition.

2) OLX

OLX is an online renting, selling and buying website with anumber of users and followers in its listing. To cater to thegrowing internet population, especially the mobile connectedusers, the OLX app was launched in May, 2012. Realizing thevast potential and ever growing mobile internet population, theOLD mobile application launch was just the right thing to do. Aconsiderable lot of its users operate solely from mobile due tothe added convenience and speed on the mobile web apps.

It gives its users the convenience of making online sales andpurchases without the hassle of operating its website via adesktop setup. Users can directly upload pictures of the itemsthey wish to sold, enter its details and post an ad for free within seconds!

3) Dominos

The leading pizza brand Dominos has jumped into the mobile revolution and made the most of it already!The dominoes mobile app launched in India witnessed great success, taking its sales up by a considerablenumber.

Equipped with one tap menus, discount coupons, offers and much more, ordering a pizza has never been

more easier.

How to dive in the Mobile Revolution?

Now that we know how the mobile technology will engulf the entirebusiness market in India, it is important that we take steps before it's toolate. Dive in this wave of change and give your business what it needs toreach the top. With the mobile usage trends and all the stats and figures inhands, you can judge where your target audience lies and how you canreach it with minimal hassles.

Get your own mobile optimized website and have your company mobileapp launched in the race. Many app developers and website developersare available in the market to suit all budgets.

The godaddy.com advertisement viral on television these days promotesthe development of mobile optimized website to help your small or bigbusiness blossom and grow like never before.

Put in efforts with these two basicelements and simply follow the mobileadvertising trends in vogue thesedays. The next steps will come to younaturally as you get started.

Seize this golden chance for yourbusiness before the sands of timeclose this window of opportunity. Theway to the top is right in front, all youneed to do is follow the path andwatch your dreams turn to reality.

Get started with your mobilebusiness today!

You can also take a look at link provided below. The video gives detailed dig into the Mobile Trends in2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arcvbo_fQJk

Sources: http://www.avendus.com/Files/Fund%20Performance%20PDF/Avendus_Report-India%27s_Mobile_Internet-2013.pdf