Kalorama: Medical mobile apps to hit $84.1M
Although much smaller than mobile app market segments, the medical app category is slowly gaining market share, and revenues are expected to more than double in 2010 over 2009, according to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information.
The market for mobile medical apps was worth about $41 million in 2009, which translates to about 1.5 percent of the total mobile app market, and Kalorama estimated 2010 sales will come in at $84.1 million.
“Despite the higher price tag for most medical apps (averaging $15 per app), the number of downloads fall short—keeping medical apps on the lower end of revenues in comparison to other categories,” the New York City-based company stated.
Smartphone use has been rapidly expanding in the healthcare industry because the devices provide a range of programs, convenience and efficiency that can’t be achieved with traditional computers and pocket drug references. By 2010, more than 50 percent of physicians were using smartphones or PDAs on a regular basis for everyday treatment activity, Kalorama stated.
Some smartphone providers offer as many as 2,000 health management apps that can help monitor heart rates, manage diabetes, record exercise schedules, and link with larger computer systems for managing health records, according to Kalorama.
“The use of smartphones in professional healthcare is still taking shape, but some providers have seen the potential and are taking advantage of the technology,” the report concluded.
The market for mobile medical apps was worth about $41 million in 2009, which translates to about 1.5 percent of the total mobile app market, and Kalorama estimated 2010 sales will come in at $84.1 million.
“Despite the higher price tag for most medical apps (averaging $15 per app), the number of downloads fall short—keeping medical apps on the lower end of revenues in comparison to other categories,” the New York City-based company stated.
Smartphone use has been rapidly expanding in the healthcare industry because the devices provide a range of programs, convenience and efficiency that can’t be achieved with traditional computers and pocket drug references. By 2010, more than 50 percent of physicians were using smartphones or PDAs on a regular basis for everyday treatment activity, Kalorama stated.
Some smartphone providers offer as many as 2,000 health management apps that can help monitor heart rates, manage diabetes, record exercise schedules, and link with larger computer systems for managing health records, according to Kalorama.
“The use of smartphones in professional healthcare is still taking shape, but some providers have seen the potential and are taking advantage of the technology,” the report concluded.