继上周预测手机应用程序今年将创收159亿美元后，科技市场调查公司Gartner近日又公布了2012年最值得关注的十种应用程序名单。据游戏邦了解，分析师们主要根据用户的喜好，针对平均售价在300美元以上的高端移动设备的情况，筛选出了这份名单。

1.地理定位服务（LBS）应用

LBS

这种应用程序为用户提供的服务包括他们的地理位置，谁和他们的年龄、性别、职业、爱好相仿等信息。Gartner公司预期LBS的用户总数在2014年将达到14亿。

2.社交网络应用

social-networking

游戏邦获悉，社交平台的网站流量正急速增长，在Gartner追踪的19个应用程序中，这种应用程序最受追捧且发展最为迅猛，它已经成为用户观看视频、观看电子邮件、体验游戏及购物消费等功能的服务中心。

3.移动搜索应用

mobile-search

Gartner认为这种应用程序在不久的将来，应该会支持用户通过搜索结果采取实际行动。例如，他们可以通过打电话或者预约，向搜索到的服务购票或下定单。

4.移动电子商务应用

mobile-commerce

这种独特的应用功能或将支持用户在一家商店“签到”并告知零售商你在那里，或者上传实体商店中的商品条形码照片，从网上购得所需产品。据游戏邦了解，在线零售巨头亚马逊已经采用了这一强大的功能，支持用户使用iPhone扫描条形码，然后通过亚马逊在线订购书本。

5.手机支付应用

mobile-payment

尽管已有人计划在2011年推出近距离非接触技术（NFC）支付方式，但Gartner预测，这一技术直到2015年方有望植入高端手机设备中。据该公司表示，这一技术必须易于操作，而且有严格的安全保障措施，才有可能被快速采用。

6.环境感知服务应用

context-aware service

环境感知服务比地理定位服务更能充分利用人们的喜好、意图、经历、环境、活动、时间表、优先考虑目标等信息，依此提供内容或产品服务。

7.物体识别应用

object recognition

随着传感器功能的日益强大，手机应当可以识别用户所处环境，包括他们感兴趣的物体。据Gartner所称，这将增强手机的搜索和娱乐功能。

8.移动即时通讯（MIM）应用

MIM

Gartner预测，MIM将通过由Skype提供的新型通信客户端来吸引用户，这或将对传统通信服务供应商的运营造成极大威胁。将MIM技术植入新产品的公司应考虑把它与其他通讯服务整合，例如地理定位功能等，但请谨慎开发其他功能，比如社交网站活动联盟等。

9.移动电子邮箱应用

Mobile-EM

据Gartner预测，到2014年，手机电子邮箱用户有望从2009年的3.54亿增加到7.13亿人。技术与服务供应商应当考虑的问题是，如何让用户更为简便地使用手机邮箱功能，并以此作为与顾客保持长期联系的途径。

10.移动视频应用

mobile video

智能手机和平板媒介已为用户提供了一个观看视频的新平台，Gartner认为，用心进行市场营销和培养用户，其他移动设备同样可以在近年内进军移动视频市场。运营商与YouTube之间的合作，可以让用户在途中时继续满足自己观看视频的需求。预装的高清及3D内容可以将手机设备武装得更为强大。（本文为游戏邦 /gamerboom.com编译，转载请注明来源：游戏邦）

Top 10 mobile apps to watch in 2012

Stamford: List of 10 most sought after apps in mobile for 2012 releases keeping in mind the likes and dislikes of consumers. Apps on mobile need to have a more extended version of what is being used on laptops and PCs. While making selection, analysts kept their focus on high-end devices with average selling price of more than $300 to have top 10 cutting edge technologies and trends.

Applications featuring in the list will have unique features that include some element of environment into their function.Gartner, Technology research firm, releases 10 most watched upon apps in 2012, according to its belief. Last week, Gartner projected that mobile apps would generate revenues of $15.9 billion in 2012, now they are trying to discover what app will help mobiles to build up this huge revenue structure.

The top ten apps that Gartner listed down are not far from what is getting attention today also. So, the consumer applications to be looked out for in 2012 include:

1.Location Based Services (LBSs):

This app deliver services to users based on where they are, who they are like their age, gender, profession, preference, profession and intention. Gartner expects the total user base of consumer LBSs to reach 1.4 billion users by 2014.

2.Social Networking:

Social network platforms are absorbing the increasing amount of network traffic. Among the 19 apps tracked by Gartner, this app is the most sought after and fastest growing. This becomes the users hub for videos, e-mails, games and commerce.

3.Mobile-search:

To bring mobile search to the next level, Gartner thinks that in short time span, the app needs to allow users to take actions based on the result. For example, they could make a call or reservation, buy a ticket or place an order.

4.Mobile-commerce:

Unique mobile functions could be ‘check in’ to a store to tell a retailer you’re there, or adding items into a shopping cart by taking a photo of the item for its bar code in the physical store. Amazon already sports such a function where users can use an iPhone to scan a bar code and order a book via the online retail giant.

5.Mobile-payment:

Gartner doesn’t think Near Field Communication (NFC) will be included in high-end phones until 2015, despite the fact that NFC payment is slated for inclusion in 2011. The key will be ease of use, but tough security according to the research firm.

6.Context-aware service:

Context-aware applications goes further than location-based services to use information about a person’s interests, intentions, history, environment, activities, schedule, priorities, connections and preferences to serve content, products or services.

7.Object recognition:

As sensors get better and stronger, phones should recognize user’s surroundings, including objects of interest, according to Gartner, which will improve search and entertainment on phones.

8.Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM):

Gartner expects MIM to attract consumers to new types of unified communication client, provided by Skype that threatens traditional communications service provider voice revenue. Companies that incorporate MIM into new products should consider integrating it with other communications types, such as location and presence, but be cautious about developing other functionality, such as federation of social network activity.

9.Mobile E-mail:

Use of email on phones is expected to boom from 354 million users in 2009 to 713 million users in 2014, according to Gartner. Technology and service providers should consider how they can make it easier for consumers to use their mobile e-mail services as a way of ensuring long-term relationship with customers.

10.Mobile video:

Smartphones and media tablets provide a platform to watch videos. Gartner believes that with careful marketing and consumer education other mobiles can also drive in the video usage in recent years. It believes partnerships between carriers and YouTube, allows users to keep their video addiction going while on the run. Preloaded HD and 3D content will differentiate phones. （source:siliconindia）