Mobile Phones Could Soon Rival The PC As World's Dominant Internet Platform21 April 2006
r> NEW YORK, April 18 - Today, the personal computer remains the dominant platform to access the Internet globally. However, Internet access via the mobile phone actually outpaces wireless access from a notebook PC in many of areas of the world - a statistic driven largely by the massive install base of mobile phones throughout the world as well as more developed wireless networks, according to The Face of the Web, the annual study of Internet trends by global market research firm Ipsos Insight.
Indeed, Internet browsing via a wireless device is showing robust growth in many global markets. France and the U.K are exhibiting the strongest growth in this trend, while Internet usage via mobile phone in Japan also continues to grow rapidly. Today, four in 10 adults browse the Internet on their wireless handset in Japan, double the rate from 2003. However, growth in Internet browsing on a mobile phone is flattening in other leading markets, such as the U.S. and Canada, where wireless Internet access via notebook PC appears to be emerging as the stronger out-of-home Internet platform.
Mobile Surfing Becoming Mainstream
Globally, just over one-fourth (28%) of mobile phone owners worldwide have browsed the Internet on a wireless handset, up slightly from 25% at the end 2004. Interestingly, growth in this behavior for 2005 was driven by the older users (age 35+), indicating that surfing the Internet on a mobile phone is emerging as a mainstream activity, no longer dominated by the traditional early adopter segment - young males - typical of many new consumer technologies.
Noted Brian Cruikshank, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Ipsos Insight's Technology & Communications practice: "Accessing the Internet on a wireless handheld device is no longer a novelty for consumers in the major global economies. It's becoming a common, everyday occurrence for many people."
To peruse the full release, with tables, please go to:
http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id(equal sign)3049
For more information, please contact:
Adam Wright
Ipsos Insight
612.573.8536
adam.wright@ipsos-na.com
Source: prnewswire
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