Karol Severin

Will Amazon Eat The Voice Command World?

Blog post by Karol Severin

9 Jan 2017

Last year was undoubtedly the year of video. As CES kicked off to shine more light on where the efforts of the industry are headed this year, it is becoming increasingly clear just how much voice command…

Quick Take: Can Pokemon Go Help Boost The Smartwatch Market?

Blog post by Karol Severin

23 Dec 2016

Pokemon Go launched for Apple Watch with an Android version coming soon. The smartwatch version will undoubtedly provide better experience to Pokemon Go players, but will the mobile gaming phenomenon prove…

Over 50 And Mobile
Profiling The Underserved Older Mobile Consumer

Report by Karol Severin

22 Dec 2016

The over 50 segment has been one of the most neglected during the rise of mobile platforms, social media and digital entertainment. The neglect is understandable considering their well-earned reputation…

Why Super Mario Run Will Be A Hit Game, But Not A Mobile Craze

Blog post by Karol Severin

16 Dec 2016

Nintendo launched its much anticipated Super Mario Run yesterday on iOS globally. The media has been flirting with Pokemon Go comparisons throughout the lead up to the release. The record breaking story…

Adblocker User Deep Dive – High Value Users That Cannot Be Ignored

Blog post by Karol Severin

9 Dec 2016

MIDiA Research has published our latest adblocking report: ‘Adblocker User Deep Dive – High Value Users That Cannot Be Ignored. In it we combine data on adblocker user demographics, their media behaviour…

Facebook Messenger User Profile
Streaming Savvy Mainstream Messaging App Users

Report by Karol Severin

7 Dec 2016

Facebook Messenger has caught up with WhatsApp, boasting more than 1 billion Monthly Active Users (MAUs). Along with WhatsApp and Instagram, Messenger is part of Facebook’s bet on the future of audiences…

Meitu Is Going Public, But Can It Monetize?

Blog post by Karol Severin

7 Dec 2016

Meitu, the smartphone manufacturer, digital beauty, photo and video apps company, is undertaking initial public offering (IPO) on the 15 th of December, looking to raise $750 million at a $5.2 billion…

Could Facebook Spell Trouble For Snapchat’s IPO?

Blog post by Karol Severin

2 Dec 2016

Snapchat is gearing up for its IPO which, if successful, could provide enough capital to finalize the company’s pivot from a trendy social messaging app into a full-fledged mobile platform. With new…

Next Generation Apps
The Rise Of Mobile Life Ecosystems

Report by Karol Severin

30 Nov 2016

The world of mobile is undergoing a seismic shift. It used to be that the smartphone platform world was largely understood in terms of a couple of big operating systems (iOS and Android) and their respective…

MIDiA Research Predictions 2017
The Year Of The Platform

Cover image for MIDiA Research Predictions 2017

Report by Karol Severin, Mark Mulligan, Tim Mulligan and Zach Fuller

30 Nov 2016

As we correctly predicted, 2016 was the year video ate the world. 2017 is going to be shaped by the battle for consumer attention through formatting and distribution wars. VR is likely to cede further…

Quick Take: Are Telcos Shooting Themselves In A Foot With Google’s RCS?

Blog post by Karol Severin

28 Nov 2016

Google has partnered up with 58 telcos via GSMA to deploy a standardized revamp to SMS in form of Rich Communication System (RCS). The upgraded system will give telcos a shot at competing with mobile messaging…

Why Integrating Siri Into iMessage Matters For Apple

Blog post by Karol Severin

18 Nov 2016

In June, I wrote about Apple finally making leaps towards revamping iMessage in a bid to turn it into a fully-fledged messaging platform able to compete with the leaders like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp…

Should The European Commission Penalize Google?

Blog post by Karol Severin

11 Nov 2016

In April 2016, The European commission accused Google of abusing the market leadership of Android to prevent rivals from competing with alternative software and services. Google is now dismissing the claims…

Why Facebook’s Outlook Remains Strong Despite A Worried Wall Street

Blog post by Karol Severin

4 Nov 2016

Facebook released its Q3 2016 results. Though the company beat analysts’ revenue estimates, it suggested a coming slowdown in ad revenues as it is nearing maximum ad load in its current shape. For a…

Are You Acquiring App Users At A Loss?

Blog post by Karol Severin

24 Oct 2016

It is no secret that reliable metrics are crucial for successful mobile growth, but even more important is knowing which ones to use when and how to use them. Technology is changing so fast that it is…

Adblocker User Deep Dive
High Value Users that Cannot Be Ignored

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Report by Karol Severin

23 Oct 2016

Adblocking is arguably the single biggest disruptive threat digital media businesses have faced. But it is the users of adblockers and their motivations rather than the technology itself that matter most.…

Could Limited Ad Tracking Make Apple The Largest ‘Adblocker’?

Blog post by Karol Severin

17 Oct 2016

You may have noticed the setting on your iPhones and iPads called ‘Limit Ad Tracking’ – LAT (Setting->Privacy->Advertising->Limit Ad Tracking), or if you are most people, you may not have.…

Pokémon Go User Deep Dive
Life After The Hype

Cover image for Pokémon Go User Deep Dive

Report by Karol Severin

30 Sep 2016

With over 100 million downloads and 20 million daily active users, Pokémon Go has taken the digital world by storm. Although the initial hype is inevitably becoming grounded by reality, Pokémon Go is…

From Adblocker To Ad Exchange: Eyeo Embeds Itself Into The Digital Advertising Value Chain

Blog post by Karol Severin

21 Sep 2016

Last week a major strategic puzzle piece fell into place on an adblocker’s journey to become a commercial part of the digital advertising industry’s value chain. Eyeo, the company behind Adblock Plus…

Quick Take: Google’s ‘In Apps’ Surface Content Stored In Apps On Android Phones

Blog post by Karol Severin

1 Sep 2016

Amidst the transformation from siloed mobile experiences to more integrated and fluid mobile ecosystems, Google is rightly concentrating on what it knows best – search. After starting to surface apps…