Nokia recently published some figures related to Java on mobiles. It’s amazing that something so simple can generate so much revenue. My feeling is that it’s still around games and very much at the head of the long tail (a few companies make the bulk of the money).
When thinking of mobile Java, keep in mind Trip Hawkins (of Electronic Arts
fame) and his Digital Chocolate company (which bought out Finland’s
Sumea a while back). Keep also in mind Electronic Arts’ recent purchase
of Jamdat. Consolidation, indeed.
Is there room for the little guy – yes! But, you need to be clever
in distribution and marketing to reach the numbers you need to make a
profit.
Here’s some things I clipped (verbatim) off of Forum Nokia (emphasis, mine). Also, below I’ve place a link to a page full of interesting stats.
– Nokia forecasts
that developer revenue from mobile Java applications on Nokia devices
will reach 340 million euros this year (2005).
– More than 180 operators are now deploying Java services.
– 708 million mobile Java devices had shipped as of June.
– 635 models of mobile Java devices are offered.
– 32 mobile device vendors use Java technology.
– More than 45,000 Java applications are on the market.
– Approximately 23 million mobile Java downloads have been performed each month this year.
– Nokia estimates that by the end of 2005 they will have cumulatively shipped more than 300 million devices based on platforms for app development (I suppose that encompasses Series 40, Series 60, and Series 80).
– More than 110 Nokia platform devices have been launched, of which more than 50 are Java MIDP 2.0 devices.
Link: Nokia – Wide Market Potential – Why Nokia? – Developers.
