Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association chairman Ken Fong said the public has become increasingly receptive to mobile marketing because it's both fun and beneficial. "For example, some shopping malls have invented an app that allows customers to play a game in the mall and win discount coupons," he said. To be successful, Fong said an app must not only be creative, but also provide the user with benefits.

According to Claus Mortensen, principal, emerging technology research for IDC, Hong Kong is leading in the adoption of mobile apps in the enterprise--in a survey of A-Pac markets, almost 50% of Hong Kong companies said they had deployed mobile apps (beyond e-mail), while only Australia was ahead at 60%, add those that planned to deploy and HK, Taiwan and Aus had around 80% of firms all indicating plans to adopt or are adopting mobile apps already.