'Real Opinions’ is a full service market research consultancy with offices in Dubai and beyond.
Why the name 'Real Opinions', you may ask? We wanted a name to show we truly believe in empowering everyday people with the opportunity to have their opinion heard and for our clients to not only hear but for them to understand how to act upon them. We also have a straight forward approach to work and employ industry leading experts and worldwide affiliations.
Here is an infographic of the research we conducted on smartphones and apps back in April 2011 in the Middle East with over n=2000 smartphone users from our online panel. We'd like to thank Research in Motion (BlackBerry) for sponsoring this research to help make it possible.
The 2012 research results will be presented at The Mobile Show in Abu Dhabi from 17th to 18th April 2012, hosted by Terrapinn.
For in-depth information on this research or our ability to conduct research with smartphone users across the Middle East, please contact us: inquiry@real-opinions.com
12th July 2011, Dubai, UAE Research results in Middle East with 2,950 respondents. To receive a copy of the full report, register at www.real-opinions.com/research
Real Opinions and , the local investment fund helping to create a sustainable app development industry throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, has announced the findings of a comprehensive study on the current state and growth potential of the MENA region's app industry.
The objective of the research, which was sponsored by Research In Motion (RIM) and conducted by Dubai based market research company , was to examine and highlight the business potential of apps in the Middle East and to directly support the growth and development of the region's app industry.
David Ashford, General Manager , said, "Consumer consumption of Apps in the MENA region is growing at a fantastic rate; however, it is very different to other parts of the world and that's what makes this research so valuable. We need to ensure that the apps that are developed are what people living in this region want to consume, rather than what developers want to build."
"As an investment fund dedicated to the development of the industry, , receives hundreds of proposals for new apps every month. Therefore, it is imperative that we have access to accurate market intelligence to support us make us informed decisions on the projects we back," he concluded.
Conducted as an online survey, in both English (23%) & Arabic (77%), with almost 3,000 respondents, it is the intention of AppsArabia that this data will now be used by app developers to make informed choices when planning and marketing their apps in the region and to develop apps that are culturally relevant.
Dan Healy, CEO of Real Opinions, commented, "We have witnessed the dramatic evolution of the industry and yet there is a lack of information available on users regionally. Together with insight from David Ashford, the General Manager of AppsArabia, and the integral support of Research In Motion to make this a reality, we conducted this research to help fill some of these information gaps. We hope this will both encourage more investment in the industry regionally and helps more local app entrepreneurs and developersto be successful."
Research highlights:
1. 49% of users expect to upgrade in the next 6 months, 70% in the next 12 months. 2. 82% who don't have a want one and 54% expect to get their first one in the next 12 months. 3. 95% of users have apps installed. 4. Smartphone users have an average of 29 apps installed, while 40% have 10 or less. 5. 51% of smartphone users use apps all day long. 6. 73% like downloading apps that make their life easier and 57% are interested in game apps. 7. 82% of smartphone users with apps download at least once a week. 8. On average, smartphone users download 6 apps each month. 9. In the coming 12 months, 53% of all smartphone users claim they will be buying apps (30% said they wouldn't and 17% were not sure) 10. In the coming 12 months, 24% of all smartphone users claim they will spend more than $50 on apps. 11. 58% would trade their usage data and receive targeted advertising in return for free app 12. 52% recommend apps to friends while half as many (26%) give a simple rating score for those they don't know to see. 13. 33% find out about new apps from their friends while most are discovered doing a search on their smartphone (38%). 14. Just 14% would evaluate an app based upon general media coverage. 15. 62% of all smartphone users surveyed in the Middle East prefer apps to be in English while 39% of users who understand Arabic prefer apps to be in English.
About the Research The research was conducted online survey using the Real Opinions online panel throughout the Middle East for 1 week from 6th to 13th April 2011 leading up to the conference ‘Planet of the Apps Arabia’. It was cconducted in both English (23%) & Arabic (77%) with n=2,950 respondents. The 12 month research result trends will be presented at ‘The Mobile Show’ 17-18 April 2012 in Dubai, UAE.
About Real Opinions Real Opinions is a full-service market research company, specialising in online media, with global and Middle East research expertise and best practice. Based in Dubai with consultants in London and Singapore, Real Opinions has proven ability to help strategically guide organisations with communication, insight and assess the effectiveness of campaigns.
Real Opinions is an accredited member of ESOMAR, an international organisation for market research. For more information visit http://www.real-opinions.com
Contact Real Opinions for more information: inquiry@real-opinions.com Read more!
Real Opinions research results in Middle East with 2,950 respondents. To receive a copy of the full report, register at www.real-opinions.com/research
12th June 2011, Dubai, UAE
The latest research with smartphone users in the Middle East shows the dynamic growth of smartphones and opportunities for app developers with 95% of smartphone users claiming to have apps and 82% download them at least once a month. In a typical month for these smartphone users, 6 apps are downloaded and a third of these are bought.
Although 18% prefer to pay a USD$1 starting price for apps and 13% would pay the full price with all the features and functions, the most appealing business model for 58% is one where smartphone users accept advertising in the app and they are willing to surrender their usage data.
A total of 73% of smartphone users agreed with the statement ‘I like downloading apps that make my life easier’ and this is reflected with the types of apps they are interested in. Communication apps are the most popular for 77% of smartphone users and this is in contrast to just 57% for games. However, the fuller picture is revealed as the popularity of games increases to 69% for full time students and those unemployed. Even 47% of senior officials and managers also find games appealing, but they in particular are more likely to prefer business (60%) and banking/finance apps (56%).
The research was conducted by the Dubai based market research company Real Opinions across the Middle East and sponsored by Research in Motion leading up to the conference ‘Planet of the Apps Arabia’. Dan Healy, CEO of Real Opinions commented,
“We have been witnessing the dramatic evolution of the industry and lack of information available on smartphone users regionally. Together with insight from David Ashford, the Managing Director of ‘AppsArabia’, and the integral support of ‘Research In Motion’ to make this a reality, we conducted this research to help fill some of these information gaps. We hope this will both encourage more investment in the industry regionally and helps more app developers to be successful.”
The potential opportunities for smartphones and app developers is amplified with half of those that don’t have a smartphone expecting to get one within the next 12 months and 7 in 10 of those that do have a smartphone intend to upgrade in the same time period.
4 in 10 of smartphone users are professionals, senior management or officials and 16% are full-time students. The growth of 1 in 5 first time smartphone users is expected to come from full-time students.
AppsArabia’s David Ashford added,
“While there is consumer demand for regional apps, the main challenge has been the willingness of consumers to pay for apps and the options for method of payment. This research shows that users don’t mind in-app ads if the app is free to download and use. But this often isn’t enough of a revenue stream for publishers so entrepreneurs are exploring other ways to combat piracy, such as in-app purchases and try-before-you-buy.”
About the Research The research was conducted online survey using the Real Opinions online panel throughout the Middle East for 1 week from 6th to 13th April 2011. It was cconducted in both English (23%) & Arabic (77%) with n=2,950 respondents.
About Real Opinions Real Opinions is a full-service market research company, specialising in online media, with global and Middle East research expertise and best practice. Based in Dubai with consultants in London and Singapore, Real Opinions has proven ability to help strategically guide organisations with communication, insight and assess the effectiveness of campaigns.
Real Opinions is an accredited member of ESOMAR, an international organisation for market research. For more information visit http://www.real-opinions.com
Contact Real Opinions for more information: inquiry@real-opinions.com Read more!
'Real Opinions’ is a full service market research consultancy with offices in Dubai and beyond.
