Entertainment applications rose to the leading content category, showing a shift in consumer smartphone usage from business only to work-and-play

HURST, Texas, March 6 - Handango, the world's leading provider of smartphone content, today released the 2007 Year-end Handango Yardstick, a global trend report about the smartphone content industry. For the first time in Yardstick history, Entertainment content was the leading sales category, moving from third place in 2006, signaling a consumer shift in using smartphones not just for business and productivity-related activities. Also, the report shows smartphones created and marketed to consumers to use for work and play were among the leading devices for content downloads in 2007.

The Handango Yardstick consolidates and reports on key smartphone market data based on content purchases on a quarterly and annual basis from across the Handango distribution network -- Handango.com, partner storefronts including carriers, OEMs and operating system partners, as well as individual application developers' websites that are powered by the Handango Commerce Engine. Market data in the report includes sales by content category; sales by device; top searches; the number of new software providers and applications added to the Handango library, and best-selling applications for each of the five major smartphone operating systems: BlackBerry(TM), Palm OS(R), Symbian OS(R), Windows Mobile(R) Standard (formerly Smartphone) and Windows Mobile(R) Professional (formerly Pocket PC).

  2007 IN REVIEW:

  Smartphones now used for both work and play

In 2007, Entertainment content was the top-selling category with 17 percent of total sales. Business & Professional content dropped from first place at 18 percent in 2006, to second place at 16 percent of total sales in 2007, suggesting that smartphone owners are using their devices for work and play. Other leading categories in 2007 were Productivity applications, such as address book and calendar, and Games, at third and fourth place, respectively.

BlackBerry mobile applications experienced triple-digit growth

More than 11,000 new mobile applications for the BlackBerry were added to the Handango network. In fact, the BlackBerry collection of applications grew at the largest rate, with 135% more applications added in 2007 than in 2006.

Devices catering to more mainstream consumers topped the list for mobile applications

The Blackberry Pearl and Motorola Q, smartphones targeted to consumers for both work and play, were among the top devices for content downloads in 2007, both by revenue and number of units sold.

Go to http://corp.handango.com/ and click on Yardstick under the Press Room to download a copy of the 2007 Year-end Handango Yardstick.

PLATFORM OVERVIEW

In addition to the all-platform annual Handango Yardstick report, specific information is also available for each of the main smartphone operating systems: BlackBerry(TM), Palm OS(R), Symbian OS(R), Windows Mobile(R) Standard (formerly Smartphone) and Windows Mobile(R) Professional (formerly Pocket PC).

BlackBerry

Handango reported a stellar year for BlackBerry, with a 135% year over year increase in the number of new mobile content titles added to the Handango catalog. This operating system continues to be popular with consumers interested in Business & Professional applications, as sales in that category topped 31 percent in 2007, while Entertainment content came in second at 23 percent. Despite the fact that Business & Professional applications ranked highest in overall sales, the top 10 applications sold for BlackBerry in 2007 included Games, such as Sudoku and poker; Communications software, such as ringtones and instant messenger; and travel applications. The BlackBerry Pearl was the most popular device for mobile content in 2007, both in terms of revenue and units sold.

  The top 10 best-selling applications for BlackBerry in 2007 were:
  1. Ringtone Megaplex (ringtone library)
  2. Sudoku (puzzle game)
  3. Colour Your Trackball (trackball customizer)
  4. IM+ (instant messenger)
  5. Ascendo DataVault (password manager)
  6. WorldMate Live Gold Membership (travel assistant)
  7. Aces Texas Hold'Em - No Limit (poker game)
  8. IM+ for Skype (instant messenger)
  9. SplashID for BlackBerry (information security)
  10. Crackberry Ringtones Deluxe (ringtone library)

  Windows Mobile Standard

Windows Mobile Standard users focused on play in 2007, as Entertainment applications topped the sales chart at 36 percent, and streaming media applications appeared in the top 10 best-sellers list. Business & Professional applications landed in distant second place at 12 percent. More applications -- over 1,600 -- were added to the Windows Mobile Standard catalog in 2007 than in 2006.

The top 10 best-selling applications for Windows Mobile Standard in 2007 were:

  1. Ringtone Megaplex (ringtone library)
  2. SBSH Facade (home screen plug-in)
  3. MobiTV (streaming television)
  4. HandiTV (streaming television)
  5. Fizz Weather (weather monitor)
  6. SmartphoneNotes (note manager)
  7. Agendus Standard Edition (calendar manager)
  8. Agenda One (calendar manager)
  9. PocketStreamer (streaming media)
  10. IM+ (instant messenger)

  Palm OS

Although Palm released few devices in 2007, this operating system continued to show loyal demand for content throughout the year. The Palm Treo 650 remains one of the top devices for applications available from Handango.

  The top 10 best-selling applications for Palm OS in 2007 were:
  1. PocketMirror Standard Edition (Outlook synchronization)
  2. Agendus Professional Edition (personal information manager)
  3. SplashID (information security)
  4. Ringo Pro (ringtone player)
  5. Agendus Premier Edition (Outlook synchronization)
  6. Snap (data entry tool)
  7. Agendus Desktop Edition (Outlook synchronization)
  8. Diet & Exercise Assistant (fitness assistant)
  9. PocketMirror Standard Upgrade (Outlook synchronization)
  10. SplashWallet Suite (personal identification manager)

  Windows Mobile Professional

The PPC 6700, which launched in 2005, topped the list of Windows Mobile Professional devices, demonstrating that older devices have remained popular with consumers downloading smartphone applications. Business & Professional applications remained the number one category in terms of sales for this operating system at 19 percent in 2007, with Entertainment applications coming in second at 15 percent.

  The top 10 best-selling applications for Pocket PC in 2007 were:
  1. Spb Pocket Plus (today screen plug-in)
  2. Spb Mobile Shell (today screen plug-in)
  3. Pocket Informant 8 (today screen plug-in)
  4. MobiTV (streaming television)
  5. Spb Backup (file backup)
  6. Microsoft Voice Command (voice control)
  7. Spb Diary (today screen plug-in)
  8. Spb Time (clock)
  9. Spb Phone Suite (phone features)
  10. Spb Brain Evolution (brain trainer)

  Symbian OS

Users of the Symbian platform focused on Productivity and Utilities applications, coming in first and second place, respectively, in sales in 2007. The top 10 list included Productivity applications such as a time manager, as well as applications from other categories, including a music player, weather monitor and travel assistant. The top device for Symbian OS is the Nokia N95, which launched in 2007 and entered the top 10 device list for the first time.

  The top 10 best-selling Symbian OS applications in 2007 include:
  1. SBSH Papyrus (time manager)
  2. Handy Calendar for S60 (calendar manager)
  3. LCG Jukebox (music player)
  4. ProfiMail (email viewer)
  5. Quickoffice Premier (document manager)
  6. Handy Weather for S60 (weather monitor)
  7. Advanced Call Manager (call manager)
  8. WorldMate Professional (travel assistant)
  9. Ultimate Voice Recorder (voice recorder)
  10. IM+ (instant messenger)

  About Handango

Handango is the leading provider of smartphone content globally. Leveraging its network of more than 16,000 content partners and its vast distribution network, Handango seamlessly delivers the smartphone marketplace to millions of consumers on the Web and from the device. Handango's market-leading content delivery platform, Handango AMPP, is the platform of choice for numerous mobile industry leaders including Microsoft, HP, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T and AOL. By delivering intuitive and compelling consumer experiences, Handango has become the trusted source for millions of smartphone users around the world. For more information, visit http://corp.handango.com/.