Mobile to overtake computers to access web: Studies

The mobile phone is set to overtake computers and laptops as the most common device to access the Internet, according to various studies and surveys held in the past few months across the globe.

This can supposedly happen by 2013. With smartphones becoming more smarter day-by-day with much more facilities and features to potentially became the replacement of home desktops and laptops; people can watch out for smartphones as a possible alternative.

The number of browser equipped phones is expected to exceed 1.83 bn, compared to 1.78 bn old fashioned computers in use, according to a survey done in nine countries around the world involving 8,000 smartphone users.

According to Gartner, almost 3 bn of the world's population will be able to make electronic transactions via mobile or Internet technology by 2014, and that by as soon as 2012, 20% of the businesses will 'own no IT assets', meaning that employees would be using their own PC, and that the businesses themselves would be relying on cloud based services.

Internet access using mobile phones is no longer a casual activity, said a study by Initiative, the media, marketing and digital company.

According to the study, titled 'Global Mobile Survey', which was conducted among active smartphone users across Italy, Sweden, the UK, the US, Australia, China, India and South Korea, found that 65% of the smartphone users use their handset to connect to the Internet every day. In India, 40% smartphone users access the Internet daily, 34% of them access it for more than half an hour each day.

The study also found that mobile Internet is not growing at the expense of any other media. Almost 76% of smartphone users connect to the Internet via mobile in addition to their other Internet usage.

Another recent study by Nielsen Online on the accelerating adoption of mobile web has also attributed it to the proliferation of smartphones, the expanded availability of unlimited data packages and an increasingly compelling consumer experience resulting from high 3G network speeds.

The Initiative study also said that applications have become the catalyst for change in the way that people view mobile handsets, shifting perception from voice, text and email to a never ending array of new functionalities.

This is a remarkable development as it now proves that people are increasingly realizing the power and importance of a mobile phone not only as a medium to talk or for entertainment, but also as a versatile device that can play a much more important role like accessing the web world instantly on the move.

As the Global survey report stated, the transition of the mobile phone is taking place from a 'life support' tool to a 'life management' tool.

With new innovations happening in the smartphones segment, like HD voice and 3D screens, people can give away their desktops and laptops for more handy, reliable and smart devices.

akankshas@cybermedia.co.in