Mobile app news roundup: Apple, Kontagent and Capcom

Apple Hits 25 billion downloads -- Apple’s App Store has now passed 25 billion downloads. The 25 billionth app was the Lite version of Disney’s Where’s My Water, downloaded by Chinese customer Chunli Fu, reports Pocketgamer. GDC attendance up 17 percent -- The 2012 Game Developer’s Conference set a new attendance record, attracting more than 22,500 attendees, up 17 percent year-on-year. Unlike previous years, mobile and social developers were a large presence at the event, with companies like GREE and Wooga well represented with prominent sponsorships. Capcom expects 50 percent of revenue to come from digital within five years -- Capcom is planning to see digitally distributed games make up the bulk of its profits and revenues by 2017, reports Gamasutra. The outlet interviewed Capcom’s SVP Christian Svensson at GDC last week, who revealed the company expects to move away from a retail-dependent model. DeNA signs Chinese partnership to bring Mobage to Weibo -- DeNA continues its push into China, signing a deal with SINA, the operator of Weibo.com, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter. All Weibo members will now be able to log into DeNA’s Mobage network using their existing Weibo accounts. Weibo will also add a link to the Mobage platform inside its Android app. iSwifter brings PC game streaming to mobile -- Menlo Park-based iSwifter now supports live streaming of both PC and flash games to iOS and Android devices. Big Fish Games buys Self Aware Games, revenues up 30 percent year-on-year -- Seattle’s Big Fish Games announced last week its revenues are up 30 percent year-on-year, the ninth year in a row its revenues have increased. The company also announced it acquired Oakland-based Self Aware Games. The purchase amount was not disclosed. Microsoft, Onlive in licensing dispute over OnLive Desktop apps -- Microsoft has come out on record, stating that OnLive’s Desktop apps, which allow users to stream Microsoft office to iPads and Android tablets break its terms of service. OnLive has refused to comment on the matter. China Mobile passes 15 million iPhone customers -- China Mobile now has 15 million customers with iPhones, even though the company’s 3G network does not yet support the iPhone, reports Tech in Asia. Draw Something passes 20 million downloads -- OMGPOP’s breakout mobile hit Draw Something has now been downloaded more than 20 million times, reports Business Insider. The app is generating daily revenues in the six-figure range, according to OMGPOP’s CEO Dan Porter. Apple pushes back new iPad shipment dates -- Apple has pushed back the shipment date for the new iPad from Mar. 16 to Mar. 19 in the US and delayed UK and Canadian shipping estimates to “2 to 3 weeks”. While this likely indicates Apple’s online store is sold out of the devices, retail shops will still have the device on the original Mar. 16 date, reports The Next Web. Kontagent reports 500 percent revenue growth year-on-year -- Kontagent is reporting its revenues increased 5-fold in 2011. The company’s analytics platform now reaches 150 million monthly active users in more than 1000 apps. Crytek gets into mobile games with physics puzzler -- Crytek, the developer largely known for its first-person shooter titles and its high-end CryEngine platform, has revealed its first mobile game will be a physics puzzler called Fibble Flick Rock ‘n’ Roll, according to Pocket Gamer. 2012 Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice Awards winners announced -- Canadian developer Capy Games has won the award for best Handheld/Mobile Game at the Game Developers Choice Awards, taking home the prize for its game Sword & Sworcery EP. Simogo’s Beat Sneak Bandit was awarded the prize of Best Mobile Game at the Independent Games Festival. Both awards were given out last week at the GDC. [Funding] Tap.Me closes $3.2 million in funding -- Mobile app monetization company Tap.Me has closed a $3.2 million dollar round of funding lead by Hyde Park Ventures. The company has also added industry vet Jeffrey Lapin (Atari, Take-Two Interactive, THQ) to its board of directors and signed up Canadian developer Fluik, makers of the Office Jerk series of apps.

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Mobile app news roundup: Apple, Kontagent and Capcom

Kathleen De Vere

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Kathleen De Vere