Tokyo, Japan - 5 Aug, 2011: Research Panel Asia Inc.(RPA, Tokyo, Japan, CEO: Shogo Nakazato) which conducts marketing research in APAC has launched a smartphone application in China for both Android and iOS, aiming to build a strong access channel with those growing smartphone users in the country.

RPA today announces its new launch of smartphone applications in China for its Chinese online panel users to keep updated with the latest survey information through their devices. This will create a new channel for RPA to access its online panels in addition to the existing PC web site, email and desktop gadget, extending its reachability to the Chinese research panels. Moreover, it is expected that the new applications will enhance the operational efficiency and bring a better response speed in China.

The newly released smartphone applications are for both Android phones and iPhones, the two major smartphone platforms in China. It is designed to enable RPA's panelists to access all of the fundamental activities such as i) access new survey information, ii) participate in quick polls, iii) receive the latest news, and iv) check the balance of his/her reward, anywhere and anytime through their smartphones. This is the first of those kind applications where Chinese online users can get rewards by participating in surveys through their smartphones.

In China, according to the report from ZDC (http://zdc.zol.com.cn/238/2381944.html), the number of smartphones shipped in June reached 83.1% of the total Chinese mobile market, which means around 8-10million units per month are shipped. Android phones gained their share very rapidly and reached over 40% of the smartphone market as the No.1 OS in the market, followed by Symbian phones. The share of iPhone is nearly 10%, and it is showing steady growth.

RPA has launched its China online research panel in Y2009. It becomes the top active online panel in the market with total of over 370K panelists as of now. Since its launch, RPA has been putting its effort to maintain its panelists in China through PC channels as an online data collection specialist, however, it thinks the mobile will become a key channel to access its Chinese panelists. Recent rapid growth of smartphone users enables RPA to provide service to those mobile users and keep them engaged through the applications to realize a higher quality panel.

Mobile is a strong trend not only in China but also in other Asian countries, becoming the most popular tool to access online. RPA, as an online data collection specialist in Asia, will continue its investment to embrace the mobile technologies to the panel operations as the market leader.