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TECHNOLOGY

Computer gaming sales up sharply

Swedish consumers purchased more than 7.6 million computer games in 2007, spending about 2.3 billion kronor ($3.6 million).

Published: 19 February 2008 16:06 CET

Compared with 2006, Swedish game sales for 2007 increased by 37.3 percent when measuring in units and 31.3 percent when measured by turnover, according to figures from industry umbrella group Swedish Games Industry (Dataspelsbranschen).

Half of Sweden’s population play computer games, and the numbers are equal between women and men, according to the organization.

The group forecasts 10 percent growth in 2008.

PCs are still the largest gaming platform, but Playstation 2 also remains strong after seven years on the market. However, Swedish Games Industry sees new gaming consoles exhibiting the strongest growth.

The year’s most purchased games include titles such as World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Singstar Svenska Hits Schlager, Super Mario Galaxy, Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock, and Assassins Creed.

Approximately 3.6 million PC-games were sold during the year, and 1.7 million for Playstation 2.

Swedes also purchased a total of 728,000 games for the Xbox 360.

Portable gaming consoles are also becoming more popular. Game sales for the Nintento DS increased four-fold, due in large part to titles such as Pokémon Diamond/Pearl and Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

LIVING IN FRANCE

France to roll out ID cards app

Technology is being rolled out to allow people to carry their French ID cards in an app form - and could be rolled out to other cards, including driving licences and cartes de séjour residency cards.

Published: 4 May 2022 11:24 CEST
France to roll out ID cards app

Holders of French carte d’identité (ID cards) will soon be able to carry certified digital versions of them on their smartphone or other electronic devices, a decree published in the Journal Officiel has confirmed.

An official app is being developed for holders of the newer credit card-format ID cards that have information stored on a chip. A provisional test version of the app is expected at the end of May.

Users will be able to use the ID card app, when it becomes available, for a range of services “from checking in at the airport to renting a car”, according to Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market.

All French citizens have an ID card, which can be used for proving identity in a range of circumstances and for travel within the EU and Schengen zone – the new app will be in addition to the plastic card that holders already have.

Under the plans, after downloading the app, card holders will need merely to hold the card close to their phone to transfer the required information. According to officials, the holder then can decide what information is passed on – such as proof of age, or home address – according to the situation.

The government has not given any examples of situations in which the app would need to be used, but has set out the main principles and the ambition of the plan: to allow everyone to identify themselves and connect to certain public and private organisations, in particular those linked to the France Connect portal.

READ ALSO What is France Connect and how could it make your life simpler?

Cards will continue to be issued for the foreseeable future – this is merely an extension of the existing system.

Only French citizens have ID cards, but if successful the app is expected to be rolled out to include other cards, such as driving licences, cartes de séjour residency cards or even visas. A digital wallet is being developed at the European level – Member States have until September to agree what it could contain.

READ ALSO Eight smartphone apps that make life in France a bit easier

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