Snapchat’s Ticketmaster tie-up bolsters its location data goals: The partnership includes a way to discover nearby concerts via the Snap Map, plus a new mini-app that suggests ideas based on user preferences.
Consumers around the world rely more on their phones as they shop in-store: Retailers looking to improve omnichannel capabilities should focus on adding mobile touchpoints to in-store experiences.
According to a PayPal-commissioned poll by Maru Group in July 2021, almost three-quarters (72%) of adults in Canada said they like being able to order groceries online,
It should come as little surprise that Amazon was the top US shopping app in 2021, downloaded 40.0 million times that year. More remarkable is Shein’s leap to the No. 2 spot, up from seventh place in 2020. The Chinese fashion giant had 32.0 million US downloads under its belt in 2021, 68% more than the year prior.
Hopes fade for a 5G BlackBerry phone: As OnwardMobility’s license to use the BlackBerry brand expires, remaining patents are sold for $600 million, indicating BlackBerry’s final exit from mobile as it focuses on enterprise, security, and embedded systems and solutions.
Casual mobile games are attracting investor attention: Developers like Tripledot now have to find ways to create viral experiences that stand out in a sea of copycats.
In this Meet the Analyst Webinar, Yory Wurmser, our principal analyst, discussed the top four mobile trends to watch in the months ahead
Apple responds to AirTag tracking complaints by making alerts louder: Updates make tracking people without consent harder, but the move might not be enough to deter stalkers and thieves.
The pandemic made QR codes more essential and ever-present. They have become an attractive tool for marketers, thanks to their ease of use and higher adoption rates.
DoorDash was once again the most downloaded US food and drink app in 2021, racking up 37.0 million downloads, 5% fewer than in 2020. McDonald’s jumped to second on the list with 24.0 million downloads, 33% more than the year prior. Meanwhile, Uber Eats dropped to third place with 21.0 million downloads.
Dozens of SpaceX Starlink satellites destroyed in geomagnetic storm: 40 satellites were rendered inoperable a day after launch, calling into question whether low-orbit satellite internet service is viable long term.
Microsoft meets regulators in the middle as it seeks approval for Activision Blizzard deal: The tech giant published a list of principles in a bid to allay antitrust concerns.
Twitter’s wide net of new features yields mixed earnings results: The platform has tested a bevy of fresh features and revenue streams, but growth is slowing.
Chime was the most downloaded US mobile banking app in 2021, with 12.8 million downloads, up 16% from 2020. Other neobanks had a huge year as well: Current posted 67% growth in downloads, and Varo skyrocketed to 10th place with a 529% increase. That said, traditional banks took the rest of the top five positions.
New Samsung devices haven’t changed much from old Samsung devices: The key difference is deeper integration with popular services such as Google Duo, Microsoft OneDrive, and Snap add more value for users.
In 2021, 233 mobile apps crossed the $100 million mark in consumer spending worldwide, and just under 75% of them were games. That’s down from about 82% in 2020, as more nongaming apps passed that milestone than their gaming counterparts. Still, games continue to drive much of the consumer spending in the multibillion-dollar mobile ecosystem.
TikTok strengthens its content moderation policy: After criticism about its effect on minors and connection to the Chinese government, the social media platform makes changes.
A Peloton acquisition may face regulatory scrutiny: While Amazon, Apple, and Nike are each reportedly interested in buying Peloton, they need to examine whether the benefit is worth the hassle.
New iPhone SE could complete Apple’s transition to 5G: Likely to be announced next month, Apple’s latest SE would rely on older components but carry millions over the 5G threshold.
Find out how the financial services industry is accelerating its adoption of mobile-first marketing