India recently surpassed the United States to become the second-largest smartphone market in the world, trailing only China. In fact, there are more smartphone users in India than the total population of the US.
However, barely one-third of the potential market has been penetrated, with the number of users in rural and urban areas growing day-by-day.
The rapid rate of growth of the mobile sector has led to Chinese companies establishing themselves as leading sellers in the Indian market, and now even the likes of Google are getting involved. Earlier this month, the internet giant invested USD 4.5 billion into Jio Platforms, with India’s biggest telecom provider announcing plans to utilise the money to increase internet access and smartphone sales to hundreds of millions.
The popularisation of smartphones in India has been given a boost by pioneering developers' innovations specifically for the Indian market.
From stores to screens
In India, the eCommerce sector continues to grow alongside the increase in smartphone adoption thanks to India-tailored online stores and product lines.
The compound annual rate of growth of the sector is predicted to be 18.15 per cent in the near future, increasing from INR 3,550.7 billion in 2018 to INR 10,494.3 billion in 2024. Increased smartphone sales lead to increased internet usage and increased eCommerce access leading to a more streamlined logistics infrastructure.
Entertainment will always be a driver
Mobile gaming is booming across India right now, with brand new titles grabbing attention and market share. Online adaptations of recognised, traditional games are proving to be a lucrative sector of the market.
One of the most historically popular games across the subcontinent is the card game of Teen Patti. Now, multiple app developers have come up with over 10 Teen Patti apps with different variations available when you play it here, with the likes of Faceoff, AK47, 999, and Muflis among the most popular. While it’s still the classic game, it has been modernised and adapted for mobile users.
Niches are being filled
Developers and companies in the Indian mobile market have seen the potential of niche apps and created new mobile-based platforms. A prime example of this is the KURMA app, which is aimed at turtle conservation.
With online and mobile-accessible innovations being tailored explicitly for the Indian audience, the groundwork is in place to further increase the value of the market.
