News

PapayaMobile hits 25 million users on Android as platform grows 940% in 20 months

Virtual currency hits 11 million paid transactions

PapayaMobile hits 25 million users on Android as platform grows 940% in 20 months
With Android's status as a revenue driver for developers continuously called into question, PapayaMobile's latest stats fest – which pegs its current userbase at 25 million – makes cheerful reading.

The social network claims a total of 11 million virtual currency transactions have now been made within titles on the network, with the platform positioning itself as the pot of gold at the end of Android's ever-growing rainbow.

The revenue king

In total, PapayaMobile has seen its userbase jump by 940 percent within the last 20 months, but its the money those users are spending in-game that will generate the most interest amongst developers.

The average revenue per paying user across its network has hit $22.60 per month.

Interestingly, almost half that amount – more than $10 – is spent within social games built using Papaya's Game Engine.

Popular titles across the network earn an average of $20,000 a month (though the firm gives no indication of what constitutes a 'popular' game), while one in five users purchase Papaya's virtual currency.

The China question

The numbers also reveal Papaya's march into China – led by its Gateway to China program – has been the catalyst behind much of its recent growth.

The scheme helps western developers take their titles across to the Chinese market, providing free localisation services, access to other marketing channels, the opportunity of pre-installs with Chinese OEMs and access to billing solutions through the Papaya Social SDK.

"Regionally, the fastest growing market for Papaya is China which has experienced over 500 percent growth since January 2011," the firm said in a statement.

"Europe is close behind at 224 percent and then the United States at 222 percent."

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.