Pokemon GO is finally available in the Philippines. Yes, finally. As of this writing, Imanaged to catch 52 out of 250 Pokemons, and joined Team Valor. While playing the game, I realized that this isn’t something that will just benefit the mobile gamers, but will bring huge opportunities to various businesses as well. Today, allow me to share my thoughts about 5 business that I think will succeed because of Pokemon Go.
Powerbanks
Pokemom GO is a smartphone battery hog. It’s firing up several sensors – gyroscope, GPS and even cameras – when you open the app. It can definitely suck the life out of your smartphone, and it is imperative that you get yourself not just 1 but 2 powerbanks.
Companies that sell and manufacture Powerbanks like ASUS, Xiaomi and Momax will hugely be benefited by this game.
Coffee Shops near PokeStops (actually any shops near PokeStops)
If you ran out of batteries and powerbanks, your next stop will usually be a commercial place where you can charge your smartphone. Here comes coffe shops like Starbucks will come in. It will be a plus factor if these coffee shops are near PokeStops, or places where you can acquire Pokeballs or items. Items respawn every 10 minutes so if trainers hangout in coffee shops near Pokestops, they will be able to acquire items and XP every 10 minutes.
[su_spoiler title=”Reminder to trainers” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Buy a coffee. Don’t just stay in coffee shops for Pokestops.[/su_spoiler]
For trainers: Please place lures on Pokestops and make friends with fellow
Stores that sell rubber shoes
The best and healthiest way to hatch Pokemon eggs is to walk 2, 5, 10 or more kilometers. Stores and companies that sell rubber shoes will greatly be benefited by Pokemon GO. This is also a huge sales and marketing opportunity for stores to promote their products. It wouldn’t be too long to see stores setting up lures on nearby pokestops to drive more possible foot traffic.
Telcos
Telcos are the best enablers of this game as it requires data connection. For Smart Communications, it is free to access and play the game for 7 without using up data allocation.
What’s even cool about this is that telcos now allow carrier billing, which allows trainers to buy Pokecoins. They charge a little premium, but it’s going to benefit those who do not have credit cards. I bought 1,200 Pokecoins using Smart Carrier Billing for PhP525.28 (original price is PhP469.00). The PhP56.28 premium likely already includes fees and revenue.
Local Smartphone Companies
Anyone with a smartphone can play Pokemon GO. As it only requires data connection, 3G (at minimum) and GPS, users can play the game without any issues. While there is a possibility that Niantic will roll out Cardboard app features to the app (check its terms and conditions), it is a playable app for as long as you have a smartphone.
Local smartphone companies like Starmobile, Cherry Mobile and O+ can take this opportunity to reprice and unload the smartphones they haven’t sold in the past 6 months.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
