• November 19, 2008

Mobile game sales flatlined in North America and Western Europe, putting a damper on forecast growth, according to Juniper Research.

The research firm had expected sales to reach $10 billion by 2013, up from $5.4 billion this year, but potential for growth is being dampened by a combination of companies exiting the mobile games space, and poor marketing of games.

The report also found that while ad-funded downloads have become more popular, revenue from advertising is unlikely sufficient to provide developers or wireless carriers with the cash to keep going. The cost per mille (CPM) rates for advertising is likely to fall in the face of pressure on budgets, too.--Laurie Sullivan