Seeking the 'Next Billion' Gamers

摘要

A global recession isn't the best time to launch a video game console. Market researcher iSuppli predicts that unit sales of gaming consoles will rise a mere 1.4% globally this year, to 56.1 million-the smallest uptick in years-and then decline in 2010. On top of that, the $50 billion industry is dominated by a trio of powerhouses ready to stomp any newcomer.rnMobile-phone chipmaker Qualcomm and startup Zeebo don't seem bothered. The two San Diego companies think there's plenty of pent-up demand in emerging markets for something new: a living-room console that downloads video games over fast 3G cell-phone networks. They released just such a device-also called Zeebo-in early June in Rio de Janeiro.