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October 24, 2008
Report: Mobile Devices Set to Overtake PCs for Internet Usage
By Arvind Arora, TMCnet Contributor
IBM (News - Alert) has released the results of a recent survey revealing that more than 50 percent of consumers are interested in adopting a mobile device as the central hub for Internet activity, rather than a PC. The survey was conducted by IBM’s Institute for Business Value in May, and results were published in a report titled “Go Mobile, Grow.”
Based on this survey, IBM predicted that a substantial build-out of the mobile Web, with a significant shift in the way most people interact with the Web during the next 5-10 years. The company predicted that the mobile Web market for consumer services such as entertainment and e-mail will be worth $80 billion by 2011, following growth of more than 36 percent.
NetReflector conducted the online survey on behalf of IBM. A representative sample of 600 adults were surveyed in U.S., China, and the UK on their preferences regarding the mobile Internet.
In the survey, communication, travel and navigation applications, as well as news and information services were found to increase significantly in popularity and usage over the mobile Internet.
The survey also suggested that the world's population of mobile-phone users will reach 5.8 billion by 2013, increasing from the current 50 percent to 80 percent of total population. It claims that the availability of IP wireless broadband and more affordable devices will change the way companies around the world operate and relate to their customers, employees and partners.
According to the study, 39 percent of respondents said they expect to increase Internet use on their mobile device by at least 40 percent between now and 2011.
Chinese consumers were found to be the fastest adopting society of the mobile Web, a finding synonymous with IBM's previous hypothesis that within emerging and leading edge markets, the mobile platform will be the primary way of interacting with businesses and institutions.
In the survey, roughly 71 percent of consumers expected to increase their usage of communication services such as obtaining maps and directions, instant messaging, social networking, e-mailing and reading the news from their mobile devices.
Markets such as China and India are rapidly adopting in this regards, looking forward towards mobile Internet more openly than the mature markets.
As far as online money transaction is concerned, consumers still prefer to execute services such as banking, stock trading, shopping and general search on a PC rather than a mobile device.
Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.
Arvind Arora is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Arvind's articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Mae Kowalke
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