Bringing the mobile world together: GMIC 2013

One needs to be present at the Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) to appreciate how big the event is. GMIC 2013, held May 7-8, 2013 in Beijing saw more than 10,000 visitors thronging the event. The engaging VIP dinner on Monday, 6th May was a precursor of things to unfold during the event. With multiple tracks on all things mobile, it was interesting to see the who's who of the mobile Internet industry in China and elsewhere discuss and debate developments in the mobile Internet world.

Naveen Tewari, Founder & CEO, InMobi, delivered the keynote address on the opening day, sharing his vision on the future of mobile advertising.

Amit Gupta, VP Revenue and Operations, InMobi, presented key mobile internet trends and their impact on consumer behavior. According to research conducted by InMobi and Decision Fuel, mobile is the primary or only means of accessing the internet for 50% of mobile web users. This translates into a tremendous opportunity for advertisers to reach their target audience.

Jessie Yang, GM InMobi China, shared key data on the mobile app phenomenon in the US and China and discussed how it could be leveraged for mobile marketing. An InMobi survey reveals that 37% of mobile web users in the US have made in-app purchases; the corresponding number for China is a staggering 46%. While these are great statistics for mobile app monetization, they also make the case for advertisers to leverage mobile and mobile apps as an effective marketing medium. InMobi's China team had a massive presence at GMIC 2013. The team had a great time explaining the intricacies of monetization and advertising ROI to visitors. InMobi's exclusive dinner parties were equally well received by advertisers and publishers, who engaged Team InMobi with their questions, thoughts, ideas and challenges.

For those of you that couldn't make it to GMIC 2013, you need to plan now for GMIC 2014. If you are doing anything remotely connected with mobility, GMIC is the place to be in Asia!