More users accessing the Internet through mobile phones

Not long ago, mobile phones were used mainly for calling and texting. Now, however, research suggests that handsets are replacing computers as the preferred method for accessing the Internet.

A man using his mobile phone accesses a broadband wireless internet connection on his laptop in central Sydney.

 

The study showed that half of users in their 30s log on to the Internet with a mobile device while at work or at home in spite of a computer readily available. The trend may be attributed to strong smartphone sales spearheaded by the popularity of iPhone, which was first released more than two years ago.

Sensis e-Business Report author Christena Singh said that mobile Internet usage has become common across a number of different age groups.

"While younger Australians are more likely to use mobile internet, half of Australians in their 30s are using mobile web, while more than four in 10 log on when they are in their 40s," Singh said. Respondents said that they access the Internet on mobile devices to look for information such as maps and directions (67 per cent), the weather (64 per cent), news sites (59 per cent), social networking sites (56 per cent) and sports results (46 per cent).

Technology analyst Gartner says that the number of connected computers worldwide, which is about 1.78 billion, is expected to be eclipsed by mobile devices, which could hit 1.82 billion by 2013.

The Sensis e-Business Report interviewed 1000 consumers. The study also claims that children are logging on to the Internet at a very young age. About 26 per cent of children aged five-years old and younger are said to be using the Internet, with the figure rising to 46 per cent for children aged six to 10.

Source by: au.ibtimes.com