The first annual U.S. mobile phone user survey by Azuki Systems Inc. suggests that the long-heralded move to the mainstream mobile web is getting closer*. Some choice quotes (via Research Brief):
Almost 80% of those surveyed said they wished it were easier to access information from the Internet on their mobile phones, and an equal percentage stated they wished it were easier to access rich media on their mobile phones.
62% of respondents indicating they either own or will own [a smart phone] in the next 12 months.
52% access the Web via their mobile phones, and 35 to 44 year-olds are leveraging this technology the most, with 60% spending time each week surfing the Web 25% access video on their mobile phones, with 88% of this group spending less than two hours/week, which indicates a growing appetite for rich media with shorter duration viewing patterns 25% of mobile users are accessing social networking sites from their mobile devices with one in seven respondents between the ages of 23 to 34 doing so for more than two hours/week. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed reported that they would share content via their mobile phone with their contacts from social networking sites if it were easier 65% would take advantage of mobile phones that had location tracking capabilities that would present them with promotions for local businesses
*Scepticism alert: Azuki Systems business is in “enabling Interactive Mobile Media Services for content publishers and mobile operators looking to expand and monetize rich media viewership” The survey was conducted with “over 275” U.S. mobile consumers of “varying demographic backgrounds”. Does that mean 276 mobile users, and one or two was old and poor?
If you know of other data on mobile phone usage and the web, let me know. In the meantime, there are always my Delicious bookmarks on the subject.
If this survey is correct and I note your scepticism Paul,what do you think are the implications of news and information providers?
The main implication is they need to move even faster. Once news becomes mobile for the majority of people, paper comes under incredible threat. They ain't seen nothing yet.
I think with mobile browsing, there are still a few hurdles in they way with the main thing being cost. But it will for sure hit the mainstream its just a matter of ‘when?’. Lets wait and see how 2009 goes.