With news that Amazon Payments stopped supporting crowdfunding payments (Kicksarter excepted, for the time being), some of the latest research on GigaOM Pro looks at the present state of the crowdfunding market and opportunities for further growth. The future of Research in Motion — as device manufacturer or as a licensing entity — and monetization opportunities for the tablet market were also popular topics this week. Here’s a look at some of the newest and most interesting research content published on GigaOM Pro.
Note: GigaOM Pro is a subscription-based research service offering in-depth, timely analysis of developing trends and technologies. Visit pro.gigaom.com to learn more about it.
“Crowdfunding’s rapid growth and future opportunity” (David Bratvold)
Kickstarter has established itself as a household name in the crowdfunding market, launching high-profile projects that raise thousands (and in some cases, millions) of dollars through its online platform. While the overall effectiveness of crowdfunding remains a cause for debate, it’s still attracting the attention of investment firms and legislators. In this research briefing, Pro analyst David Bratvold takes a look at three major types of crowdfunding structures currently in operation, performs a quantitative analysis of the overall success and failure rates of these efforts, and examines the legislative and regulatory hurdles that lie ahead in the near term.
“Research In Motion: future scenarios and its likely fate” (Derek Kerton)
RIM’s future as a consumer device manufacturer remains in question, but the company’s significant IP holdings provide a glimmer of hope. While this week’s speculation that Samsung might license the Blackberry OS proved unfounded, Pro analyst Derek Kerton considers RIM’s archive of patents and licenses, new management and the much-anticipated release of the Blackberry 10 OS as potential factors for the company’s turnaround and transformation. In his research report, Kerton weighs each aspect of this trifecta and creates a set of scenarios for what could happen to RIM in the next five years.
“Shared data is great, but there are other ways carriers can monetize tablets” (Colin Gibbs)
AT&T and Verizon announced shared-data plans this summer, each with their own complex set of tiered data “buckets.” These new plans are a prime opportunity for carriers to promote the use and sales of tablets; only about 10% of tablet sold last year relied on cellular connectivity. This note by Pro mobile curator Colin Gibbs considers stand-alone tablet price plans and subsidies, and how they could present an even greater market for carriers.
