"Accessing the Internet on a wireless handheld device [is] becoming a common, everyday occurrence for many people," according to Brian Cruikshank, senior VP of Ipsos Insight's Technology and Communications practice.
Additionally, much of the growth was driven by users over age 35, suggesting that the practice is moving from the "early adopter" phase into the mainstream, Cruikshank noted.
In some parts of the world, Internet access via mobile phone is now more popular than using a wireless notebook PC, a result that is not surprising, given the massive worldwide installed base of mobile phones, Cruikshank said.
According to Cruikshank, mobile phone ownership is at "near saturation levels" in many areas, especially in East Asia, where over 90 percent of all households in South Korea, Japan, and urban China own at least one mobile phone. Western Europe ranks second, with about 80 percent of households owning wireless handsets. In North America, market penetration is about 75 percent in the US and just over 60 percent in Canada.
The Ipsos study also surfaced a "strong association" between Internet usage and mobile phone ownership. In 10 of the 12 markets surveyed, household ownership of mobile phones was above 90 percent among those would had gone online in the past 30 days. Cruikshank suggested that the connection between PCs and mobile phones will have "significant implications" for Internet-based services and applications.
"We think the high correlation between Internet users and mobile phone ownership suggests an opportunity for wireless services or applications that can link aspects of personalization across multiple Internet platforms," said Cruikshank. "Still, it will be crucial for companies to let consumers know just how they can leverage personalization opportunities across multiple access devices to their benefit."
Further information on Ipsos Insight's "Face of the Web 2005" study is available
here.
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