Mobile gaming on upswing in Latin America

Mobile gaming revenues in Latin America will triple in the next five years, according to new figures from EJL Wireless Research.
The Redwood City, Calif.-based market research firm said the Latin American market will grow from $65 million last year to $195 million by 2011 as many carriers transition from CDMA to GSM technology. BREW, however, remains “healthy and strong” in the region, outpacing J2ME last year in both downloads and gross revenues.
“The largest challenge in the region remains centered on Vivo in Brazil and its migration to GSM and J2ME content,” said EJL chief Earl Lum. “We believe that this transition will not happen immediately.”
The forecast underscores the increasing attention emerging markets are drawing from content providers and other wireless players. While users in such markets often have little disposable income, wireless is already leapfrogging other technologies in some developing areas that lack fixed-line infrastructures.