Karol Severin | MIDiA Research

MIDiA Research Predictions 2017
The Year Of The Platform

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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

Mobile content

Mobile messaging

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

Apple

iMessage

ios

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

android

Apple

ec

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

adblockers

adblocker users

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

Adblock

adblocker

adblocking

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

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Report by Karol Severin

30 Sep 2016

pokemon go

pokemon

niantic

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

Adblock Plus

adblock plus ad exchange

adblockers

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

google

in apps

Mobile content

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...

Shine Adds Econet To Its Network-Level Adblocking Client Roster

Blog post by Karol Severin

25 Aug 2016

adblockers

adblocking

econet

On Thursday last week, Shine, the company behind offering adblocking solutions to mobile operators, announced a new mobile operator partnership. Econet is a telecommunications group mainly active in Africa,...

Candy Crush, Clash Of Clans And The Future Of Mobile Games
From Silos To Ecosystems

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Report by Karol Severin

22 Aug 2016

candy crush

clash of clans

freemium games

Though mobile games differ largely by genre, demographics and business models, most share the status of social connector and cultural identifier. Much like music companies, mobile gaming companies often...

Quick Take: Why Mr. Robot App Is an Exciting Case To Watch

Blog post by Karol Severin

19 Aug 2016

Mobile content

Mobile messaging

Mr Robot

Mr. Robot is a cyber-security psychological thriller of NBCUniversal, popular with the tech-crowd. The company has partnered up with Telltale Games and Night School Studio and created a mobile game as...

How Facebook Is Trying To Defend Against Adblocking

Blog post by Karol Severin

10 Aug 2016

adblockers

adblocking defense tactics

desktop adblocking

Yesterday, Facebook announced changes to its ad control tools for users along with the intention to start serving ads to adblocking users on desktop. Bypassing adblockers is a bid to mitigate the resulting...

Why Disney Is Going Into Mobile Messaging

Blog post by Karol Severin

5 Aug 2016

disney

Disney Mix

messaging apps

Disney announced a launch of Disney Mix, a messaging platform aimed at kids, tweens and their families. This is an important case to watch because it shows that: In a seemingly crowded space, there is...

It’s Time to Re-Evaluate How We Size The App Economy

Blog post by Karol Severin

29 Jul 2016

app economy

app economy market size

app game dominance

Games have been dominating the app economy revenue since its inception. App Annie reports that games accounted for 85% of app market revenues in 2015. Our recent Appstore Economics Report highlights that...

Mobile Messaging Platforms
The Mobile Experience Revolution

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Report by Karol Severin

27 Jul 2016

messaging platforms

messaging apps

Mobile messaging

The world of mobile consumer experiences is undergoing a seismic shift with messaging apps a driving force. With 6.4 billion cumulative monthly active messaging app users (compared to the 1.5 billion...

Cutting Through The Hype Around Pokemon Go’s Success

Blog post by Karol Severin

26 Jul 2016

game apps

Mobile content

mobile games

The success of Pokemon Go has been impressive so far. However, its achievements are currently over-hyped. Media outlets have been reporting the game’s every new ‘record breaking’ accolade. While...

Quick Take: Why Pokemon Go Will Bring AR To The Mainstream

Blog post by Karol Severin

12 Jul 2016

AR has so far struggled to produce a compelling proposition for the mainstream to engage with (except possibly Snapchat). Pokemon Go has executed this masterfully because it: Is free and does not require...