New research finds that an increasing number of younger smartphone users prefer mobile apps over Web browsers, impacting the market for mobile content and accelerating the flow of advertising dollars to app-based content services.
The majority of consumers who prefer to use apps over mobile Web browsers are under 35 years of age. Mobile apps are already the dominant medium for access to Internet radio (including Pandora), maps, social networks, navigation (including Google Maps), and games. Netflix has developed an app for the iPad and iPhone which could increase video use as well.
While mobile apps will not completely replace Web browsers, content owners and distributors that rely too much on mobile Web might lose audience and revenues.
Comment from Harry Wang, Director of Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates: Consumers under 35 are starting to ditch browsers in favor of mobile apps, where they don't have to type in a Web address or contend with slow browser speeds. They are also put off by Web pages that do not fit the small phone screen, whereas the mobile app is native to the platform. The mobile experience is all about convenience and instantaneous access. The advantages of mobile apps could lead to a new content distribution environment for paid and ad-supported media services.
Contact: http://www.parksassociates.com
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Most Americans Will Be Doing Work Email During Holidays
The majority of employed American adults (59 percent) check work emails during traditional family holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc., a survey finds. Of these, 55 percent check work email at least once a day and 28 percent do so multiple times throughout the day.
American workers continue to be inundated with email at work and this latest survey shows that there is no sign of slowing down during the holiday season with 79 percent of those that check email while on holiday stating that they have received a work-related email from a colleague or client on holidays. The onslaught of work is leading to growing contempt by American workers with 41 percent of those that ever received work emails from a co-worker/client while they had time off for the holidays saying they are either annoyed, frustrated or resentful after receiving these emails. Younger adults have the strongest opinion on the matter with 56 percent ages 18-34 sharing they have the above reactions compared to just 39 percent of adults ages 35-44 and 30 percent ages 45-54. The survey also found that 12 percent of respondents actually "dread" seeing work emails populate their in box and 10 percent even feel pity for those who do send work-related emails on holidays.
Despite their displeasure with receiving work-related emails on holidays, 42 percent of those that check work email while they have time off for the holidays still believe that staying up-to-date on email eases their workloads once they return from break. Additionally, 19 percent of those of those that ever received work emails from a co-worker/client while they had time off for the holidays even cited feeling "thankful" or "relieved" at having the distraction.
Employed males are significantly more likely to check work email on holidays - 67 percent - compared to just 50 percent of women. Employed middle-aged adults feel the greatest urge, with 65 percent of those aged 35-44 stating that they have checked work emails on holidays. And while the East and West coasts are traditionally considered to be the beating hearts of capitalism in the United States, the survey found that the Southern region led the way with the most people sharing that they check work emails during the Holidays - 63 percent (compared to 57 percent for the west and 59 for the northeast).
For some, the survey found that the draw of work email is just too hard to get away from. One in 10 (10 percent) who admitted to checking email while off for a holiday stated that they did so while spending time with friends or relatives at Holiday parties/gatherings or during meals. Younger adults are more likely to do so with 15 percent of ages 18-34 compared to only 10 percent of ages 35-44 and just six percent of ages 45-54. Some of those (five percent) that check work email while they have time off for the holidays even admitted to using work email as excuse to avoid awkward family moments and other holiday commitments.
About the survey: The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Xobni from November 5th to 9th, 2010 among 2,179 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
Contact: http://www.xobni.com
American workers continue to be inundated with email at work and this latest survey shows that there is no sign of slowing down during the holiday season with 79 percent of those that check email while on holiday stating that they have received a work-related email from a colleague or client on holidays. The onslaught of work is leading to growing contempt by American workers with 41 percent of those that ever received work emails from a co-worker/client while they had time off for the holidays saying they are either annoyed, frustrated or resentful after receiving these emails. Younger adults have the strongest opinion on the matter with 56 percent ages 18-34 sharing they have the above reactions compared to just 39 percent of adults ages 35-44 and 30 percent ages 45-54. The survey also found that 12 percent of respondents actually "dread" seeing work emails populate their in box and 10 percent even feel pity for those who do send work-related emails on holidays.
Despite their displeasure with receiving work-related emails on holidays, 42 percent of those that check work email while they have time off for the holidays still believe that staying up-to-date on email eases their workloads once they return from break. Additionally, 19 percent of those of those that ever received work emails from a co-worker/client while they had time off for the holidays even cited feeling "thankful" or "relieved" at having the distraction.
Employed males are significantly more likely to check work email on holidays - 67 percent - compared to just 50 percent of women. Employed middle-aged adults feel the greatest urge, with 65 percent of those aged 35-44 stating that they have checked work emails on holidays. And while the East and West coasts are traditionally considered to be the beating hearts of capitalism in the United States, the survey found that the Southern region led the way with the most people sharing that they check work emails during the Holidays - 63 percent (compared to 57 percent for the west and 59 for the northeast).
For some, the survey found that the draw of work email is just too hard to get away from. One in 10 (10 percent) who admitted to checking email while off for a holiday stated that they did so while spending time with friends or relatives at Holiday parties/gatherings or during meals. Younger adults are more likely to do so with 15 percent of ages 18-34 compared to only 10 percent of ages 35-44 and just six percent of ages 45-54. Some of those (five percent) that check work email while they have time off for the holidays even admitted to using work email as excuse to avoid awkward family moments and other holiday commitments.
About the survey: The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Xobni from November 5th to 9th, 2010 among 2,179 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
Contact: http://www.xobni.com
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Mobile Shoppers Will Account For 28 Percent Of 2010 Holiday Spending
Mobile shopping "warriors" (hyper-connected individuals) and mobile shopping "warrior wannabes" (moderately connected individuals) will account for 28 percent or $127 billion of the $447 billion the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts U.S. consumers will spend this holiday season, according to a survey. M-commerce and sm-commerce are giving consumers greater advantage as they engage retailers on their own terms -- even inside the store -- within arm's reach of merchandise at the moment of their buying decision.
Mobile shopping warriors and wannabes represent the vanguard for the new age of m-commerce and, of particular interest, results suggest that the early maturity adult audience is an important part of this vanguard. Adults aged 25 to 44 years comprised nearly two-thirds of the mobile shopping warrior group while they comprised slightly less than half of consumers surveyed. In addition, adults aged 45 to 54 years were the most inclined to use their mobile information advantage; for example, asking for a better price to match one they find on their mobile device while in the store.
For retailers, the impact of mobile shopping warriors will be significant this holiday season as the survey reveals, across the board, retailers' m-commerce competence greatly influences consumer perceptions about the brand. Further, an easy-to-use mobile website significantly influences consumers, across all age groups, on where to shop this holiday season. Results also suggest that while the influence of social media outlets on buying decisions is growing, retailers continue to serve as the most important source of information on which consumers make their final purchase decisions. As such, retailers who have met the critical need for consumer-generated Web site content and easy-to-use product information will have the advantage this holiday season.
Other key findings:
More than one third of smartphone-carrying consumers (who represent 24 percent of all U.S. consumers) are ready to use their mobile devices in ways that transform how they shop everywhere and, in particular, how they shop in retail stores. New behaviors facilitated by mobility, all of which can take place in stores, include searching for price and product information, checking merchandise availability, and comparing prices at nearby stores, browsing product reviews, and purchasing goods. Consumers using multiple channels sequentially as they move from Web to store will give way to concurrent omnichannel behaviors as consumers bring their comfortable use of m-commerce with them into the store. These new behaviors will exert pressures that weaken the store's immediate influence on purchase decisions "at the shelf." In general, social media doesn't have widespread influence on shopping decisions but friends influence one another's shopping behavior on social networks and sites that have earned consumer trust will influence this behavior as well.
Comment from Greg Girard, program director, Retail Merchandise Strategies at IDC Retail Insights: MSM-commerce introduces a new consumer shopping model which changes how consumers shop, not simply when and where they shop, as e-commerce has already enabled. It is clear that MSM-commerce already has an influence on consumers' perception of brand value and their shopping intentions. We believe the retailers with superior mobile and social media commerce strategies in place will have a decided advantage. Consumers' increased comfort with using their smartphones to go online anywhere combined with their plans to use them more in the 2010 holiday season signals the beginning of a significant shift away from the capacity of the store channel to hold sway over consumers as they move to a purchase decision.
About the survey: The survey by IDC Retail Insights was designed to explore how consumers' growing comfort with mobile commerce (m-commerce) and social media commerce (sm-commerce) will play out in the 2010 holiday shopping season. IDC surveyed more than 1000 U.S. consumers aged 19 years and older in September 2010 to determine how consumers will use MSM-commerce as they shop during the 2010 holiday season. The income and demographic profiles of this sample are in line with the overall profile of the U.S. consumer population. About 73 percent of those surveyed are members of Facebook or other social networks and 68 percent own smartphones.Survey results will be available in a new IDC Retail Insights report, Outlook for Mobile and Social Media Commerce in the 2010 Holiday Shopping Season, to be published in early December.
Contact: http://idc-insights-community.com/retail
Mobile shopping warriors and wannabes represent the vanguard for the new age of m-commerce and, of particular interest, results suggest that the early maturity adult audience is an important part of this vanguard. Adults aged 25 to 44 years comprised nearly two-thirds of the mobile shopping warrior group while they comprised slightly less than half of consumers surveyed. In addition, adults aged 45 to 54 years were the most inclined to use their mobile information advantage; for example, asking for a better price to match one they find on their mobile device while in the store.
For retailers, the impact of mobile shopping warriors will be significant this holiday season as the survey reveals, across the board, retailers' m-commerce competence greatly influences consumer perceptions about the brand. Further, an easy-to-use mobile website significantly influences consumers, across all age groups, on where to shop this holiday season. Results also suggest that while the influence of social media outlets on buying decisions is growing, retailers continue to serve as the most important source of information on which consumers make their final purchase decisions. As such, retailers who have met the critical need for consumer-generated Web site content and easy-to-use product information will have the advantage this holiday season.
Other key findings:
More than one third of smartphone-carrying consumers (who represent 24 percent of all U.S. consumers) are ready to use their mobile devices in ways that transform how they shop everywhere and, in particular, how they shop in retail stores. New behaviors facilitated by mobility, all of which can take place in stores, include searching for price and product information, checking merchandise availability, and comparing prices at nearby stores, browsing product reviews, and purchasing goods. Consumers using multiple channels sequentially as they move from Web to store will give way to concurrent omnichannel behaviors as consumers bring their comfortable use of m-commerce with them into the store. These new behaviors will exert pressures that weaken the store's immediate influence on purchase decisions "at the shelf." In general, social media doesn't have widespread influence on shopping decisions but friends influence one another's shopping behavior on social networks and sites that have earned consumer trust will influence this behavior as well.
Comment from Greg Girard, program director, Retail Merchandise Strategies at IDC Retail Insights: MSM-commerce introduces a new consumer shopping model which changes how consumers shop, not simply when and where they shop, as e-commerce has already enabled. It is clear that MSM-commerce already has an influence on consumers' perception of brand value and their shopping intentions. We believe the retailers with superior mobile and social media commerce strategies in place will have a decided advantage. Consumers' increased comfort with using their smartphones to go online anywhere combined with their plans to use them more in the 2010 holiday season signals the beginning of a significant shift away from the capacity of the store channel to hold sway over consumers as they move to a purchase decision.
About the survey: The survey by IDC Retail Insights was designed to explore how consumers' growing comfort with mobile commerce (m-commerce) and social media commerce (sm-commerce) will play out in the 2010 holiday shopping season. IDC surveyed more than 1000 U.S. consumers aged 19 years and older in September 2010 to determine how consumers will use MSM-commerce as they shop during the 2010 holiday season. The income and demographic profiles of this sample are in line with the overall profile of the U.S. consumer population. About 73 percent of those surveyed are members of Facebook or other social networks and 68 percent own smartphones.Survey results will be available in a new IDC Retail Insights report, Outlook for Mobile and Social Media Commerce in the 2010 Holiday Shopping Season, to be published in early December.
Contact: http://idc-insights-community.com/retail
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Mobile Networks Face A Growing Security Crisis
Equipment vendors must adopt more secure development and design practices to correct the security vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure equipment as mobile operators transition to advanced broadband services, according to a new report.
Key findings:
-- Awareness of the importance of network security is growing. The recent, high-profile cyber-attacks on Google, the US military, the governments of Georgia and Estonia, and power plants in Iran have raised awareness of network security to a new level. With the increasing pervasiveness of computing and Internet connectivity, the scale of what an attack can achieve is staggering. This is leading organizations of all types (including organized crime, terrorist groups, and some nation-states) to invest enormous time and resources into designing cyber-attacks.
-- The mobile network has traditionally been less vulnerable to attacks than the wireline network, but that gap is closing. The mobile network has had much less exposure to IP traffic and IP end-points, but it is growing as mobile operators acquire more mobile broadband subscribers and become true ISPs. In the architectural transition to LTE, operators will remove TDM from the network and replace it with IP protocols, which are much easier to attack. And after 20 years in commercial service, the original A5/1 encryption algorithm for GSM is finally at risk of being broken and will need supplementing with the later A5/3 algorithm.
-- The changing security landscape gives primary infrastructure vendors a major opportunity to differentiate their value proposition for mobile operators. Optimal mobile network security requires a layered approach, and one key layer is the security of the operator's base stations, RNCs, gateways, switches, routers, and transmission equipment. A comprehensive assessment of the security offered by these products encompasses the security of the development environment in which they are brought to market; some of the design aspects associated with their hardware and software platforms, and the interaction between the two; and their support of the security feature roadmaps defined by the likes of 3GPP and the IETF.
Comment from Patrick Donegan, Senior Analyst of Heavy Reading: Until relatively recently, the mobile industry has been somewhat removed from security threats. It has been possible to treat the low-level fraud that has been with the mobile industry since its inception as a minor irritant. The data-oriented direction that the mobile industry is embarking on will expose the mobile network to a variety of new security challenges.At the same time the mobile industry is evolving, cyber-attacks are gaining a higher profile within society as a whole. So where mobile network security was once taken for granted, operators, infrastructure vendors, handset vendors, and application providers are being called to account as never before and asked for reassurance, near-term solutions, and long-term roadmaps that will ensure that the next 20 years of the mobile industry's evolution are built on as secure a platform as the first.
About the report: Next-Gen Security Strategies for Mobile Network Infrastructure costs $3,995 and is published in PDF format. The price includes an enterprise license covering all of the employees at the purchaser's company.
Contact: http://www.heavyreading.com
Key findings:
-- Awareness of the importance of network security is growing. The recent, high-profile cyber-attacks on Google, the US military, the governments of Georgia and Estonia, and power plants in Iran have raised awareness of network security to a new level. With the increasing pervasiveness of computing and Internet connectivity, the scale of what an attack can achieve is staggering. This is leading organizations of all types (including organized crime, terrorist groups, and some nation-states) to invest enormous time and resources into designing cyber-attacks.
-- The mobile network has traditionally been less vulnerable to attacks than the wireline network, but that gap is closing. The mobile network has had much less exposure to IP traffic and IP end-points, but it is growing as mobile operators acquire more mobile broadband subscribers and become true ISPs. In the architectural transition to LTE, operators will remove TDM from the network and replace it with IP protocols, which are much easier to attack. And after 20 years in commercial service, the original A5/1 encryption algorithm for GSM is finally at risk of being broken and will need supplementing with the later A5/3 algorithm.
-- The changing security landscape gives primary infrastructure vendors a major opportunity to differentiate their value proposition for mobile operators. Optimal mobile network security requires a layered approach, and one key layer is the security of the operator's base stations, RNCs, gateways, switches, routers, and transmission equipment. A comprehensive assessment of the security offered by these products encompasses the security of the development environment in which they are brought to market; some of the design aspects associated with their hardware and software platforms, and the interaction between the two; and their support of the security feature roadmaps defined by the likes of 3GPP and the IETF.
Comment from Patrick Donegan, Senior Analyst of Heavy Reading: Until relatively recently, the mobile industry has been somewhat removed from security threats. It has been possible to treat the low-level fraud that has been with the mobile industry since its inception as a minor irritant. The data-oriented direction that the mobile industry is embarking on will expose the mobile network to a variety of new security challenges.At the same time the mobile industry is evolving, cyber-attacks are gaining a higher profile within society as a whole. So where mobile network security was once taken for granted, operators, infrastructure vendors, handset vendors, and application providers are being called to account as never before and asked for reassurance, near-term solutions, and long-term roadmaps that will ensure that the next 20 years of the mobile industry's evolution are built on as secure a platform as the first.
About the report: Next-Gen Security Strategies for Mobile Network Infrastructure costs $3,995 and is published in PDF format. The price includes an enterprise license covering all of the employees at the purchaser's company.
Contact: http://www.heavyreading.com
Friday, November 19, 2010
More Employees Who Shop Online At Work Plan To Use Company Mobile Devices
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and with it comes Cyber Monday (Nov. 29), one of the busiest online shopping days of the year. Seventy-one percent of employees who plan to shop online at work will do so from Black Friday (Nov. 26) through mid-December.
Forty-seven percent of employees shopping online will use their company-issued mobile devices: notebook computers, tablets or smartphones. "Digital natives" -- ages 18-34, the generation that has grown up with the Internet -- are even more likely to shop using mobile devices, and are the least likely to use secure browsing technology. As mobile devices are increasingly used in the workplace, the need for network security policies to protect sensitive data on these devices is also increasing.
Comment from Mark Lobel, ISACA mobile security project leader and a principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers: Companies need to create a realistic security policy that lets employees stay mobile without compromising the company's intellectual property. To balance productivity and security, the IT mantra should be embrace and educate.
ISACA offers the following holiday shopping online security tips:
Tips for companies:
1. Promote employee awareness of the company IT security policy through an "embrace and educate" approach.
2. Encrypt data on mobile devices.
3. Use secure browsing technology.
4. Take advantage of industry leading good practices, such as Business Model for Information Security (BMIS).
Tips for employees:
1. Do not click on an e-mail or web link. Type the web site URL into your browser to avoid phishing attacks.
2. Protect sensitive information by password-protecting your mobile device and its memory card.
3. Be especially cautious with data on mobile devices; use a screen shield.
4. Ensure that the security tools and processes protecting your work-supplied mobile devices are up to date. If unsure, ask IT.
Contact: http://www.isaca.org/online-shopping-risks
Forty-seven percent of employees shopping online will use their company-issued mobile devices: notebook computers, tablets or smartphones. "Digital natives" -- ages 18-34, the generation that has grown up with the Internet -- are even more likely to shop using mobile devices, and are the least likely to use secure browsing technology. As mobile devices are increasingly used in the workplace, the need for network security policies to protect sensitive data on these devices is also increasing.
Comment from Mark Lobel, ISACA mobile security project leader and a principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers: Companies need to create a realistic security policy that lets employees stay mobile without compromising the company's intellectual property. To balance productivity and security, the IT mantra should be embrace and educate.
ISACA offers the following holiday shopping online security tips:
Tips for companies:
1. Promote employee awareness of the company IT security policy through an "embrace and educate" approach.
2. Encrypt data on mobile devices.
3. Use secure browsing technology.
4. Take advantage of industry leading good practices, such as Business Model for Information Security (BMIS).
Tips for employees:
1. Do not click on an e-mail or web link. Type the web site URL into your browser to avoid phishing attacks.
2. Protect sensitive information by password-protecting your mobile device and its memory card.
3. Be especially cautious with data on mobile devices; use a screen shield.
4. Ensure that the security tools and processes protecting your work-supplied mobile devices are up to date. If unsure, ask IT.
Contact: http://www.isaca.org/online-shopping-risks
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Almost 90 Percent Of Mobile Users Are Likely To Use Location-Based Apps For Holiday Shopping
The mobile audience will be increasingly seeking location media this holiday season, according to a new report. Nearly 90 percent of people are likely to use location-based services in the next several weeks for holiday planning and activities.
When searching for local content, 61 percent say that finding store locations is the most valuable feature of location-based media.
Additional key findings around location trends include:
-- 89 percent will likely use location-based apps and services during the holiday shopping season
-- 36 percent plan to find product reviews
-- 33 percent plan to discover current inventory at nearby stores
-- 26 percent plan to connect with social networks through location-based features
-- 62 percent have used "find a store location" features within an ad
-- On average, 30 percent are willing to travel more than five miles to redeem a mobile coupon
-- 21 percent have redeemed mobile coupons in the past 90 days
-- 49 percent of the On-The-Go Audience is open to checking-in on mobile apps, with 29 percent looking for deals and 17 percent simply wanting to share location
The data shows that mobile users are willing to travel more than five miles to redeem mobile promotions, especially for entertainment, retail or restaurants. This fact demonstrates that marketers can attract more customers by extending the range of their location campaigns beyond the basic storefront check-in to include the entire city.
Comment from David Staas, senior vice president of marketing at JiWire: It's becoming clear that there is a huge opportunity with location, well beyond the check-in. Consumers are demanding a wealth of location information that spreads across branding, product detail and discounts, allowing brands to build bigger campaign strategies. This is great news as we head into 2011 -- unlocking big brand budgets and even more opportunity in location-based media.
The proliferation of Wi-Fi and the impressive growth of mobile apps have been driven by the demands of mobile consumers, especially by the business traveler. Their need to stay connected while out of the office leads 88 percent to actively seek Wi-Fi while traveling. Additionally, 68 percent consider mobile apps very important in making their lives easier while on the go, with more than 50 percent regularly using apps in public Wi-Fi locations. The most popular mobile apps, most of which are location-based, include travel, weather, news and social networking -- The Weather Channel and Facebook apps topped the chart.
Accounting for nearly 7 percent of mobile ad requests, Android continues to grow. Three new Android phones launched in the top 10 mobile devices in Q3, shifting market share from Apple but also changing the position of other devices on the market. While Android OS has seen 3.3 percent growth this quarter, the only device that has remained a top mobile device is the Motorola Droid, rising as the fourth most popular device. The iPad's market share increased 16.3 percent this quarter, while the iPhone and iPod declined.
In the U.K., Android devices are growing much faster, with 12.8 percent market share with devices such as the HTC Desire, Wildfire, Magic and Hero. Apple still holds the top three spots with 82.1 percent of the market share. Mobile device connections make up 18.2 percent of the total connections. JiWire recently launched its presence in Europe with an office in the U.K. and a new partnership with British Telecom, expanding its Wi-Fi media channel.
Wi-Fi usage in the U.S. continues to grow, with an 18.4 percent increase in Q3 alone, as well as continued increase in the number of hotspots. Cafes saw impressive growth of free venues with a 36.9 percent increase, as stores, such as Starbucks, switched from paid to free Wi-Fi. Also in the U.S., Brooklyn and the Bronx, which each increased more than 100 percent, took over the first and second spots as the top Wi-Fi usage cities. This sent New York City and San Francisco to third and fourth place. This change is due to Comcast Xfinity increasing its Wi-Fi network on the East Coast, as well as a general increase in Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices.
About the report: JiWire's Mobile Audience Insights Report JiWire's sixth Mobile Audience Insights Report is based on data from approximately 315,000 public Wi-Fi locations, as well as a survey of 1,200 customers randomly selected across JiWire's Wi-Fi Media Channel from July 2010 - September 2010. JiWire serves advertisements to over 30,000 public Wi-Fi locations in North America and records data from every ad request. This report is based on the ad request data collected from July 2010 - September 2010. Quarterly public Wi-Fi location rankings and business model distributions are based on the final day of the quarter.
Contact: http://www.JiWire.com
When searching for local content, 61 percent say that finding store locations is the most valuable feature of location-based media.
Additional key findings around location trends include:
-- 89 percent will likely use location-based apps and services during the holiday shopping season
-- 36 percent plan to find product reviews
-- 33 percent plan to discover current inventory at nearby stores
-- 26 percent plan to connect with social networks through location-based features
-- 62 percent have used "find a store location" features within an ad
-- On average, 30 percent are willing to travel more than five miles to redeem a mobile coupon
-- 21 percent have redeemed mobile coupons in the past 90 days
-- 49 percent of the On-The-Go Audience is open to checking-in on mobile apps, with 29 percent looking for deals and 17 percent simply wanting to share location
The data shows that mobile users are willing to travel more than five miles to redeem mobile promotions, especially for entertainment, retail or restaurants. This fact demonstrates that marketers can attract more customers by extending the range of their location campaigns beyond the basic storefront check-in to include the entire city.
Comment from David Staas, senior vice president of marketing at JiWire: It's becoming clear that there is a huge opportunity with location, well beyond the check-in. Consumers are demanding a wealth of location information that spreads across branding, product detail and discounts, allowing brands to build bigger campaign strategies. This is great news as we head into 2011 -- unlocking big brand budgets and even more opportunity in location-based media.
The proliferation of Wi-Fi and the impressive growth of mobile apps have been driven by the demands of mobile consumers, especially by the business traveler. Their need to stay connected while out of the office leads 88 percent to actively seek Wi-Fi while traveling. Additionally, 68 percent consider mobile apps very important in making their lives easier while on the go, with more than 50 percent regularly using apps in public Wi-Fi locations. The most popular mobile apps, most of which are location-based, include travel, weather, news and social networking -- The Weather Channel and Facebook apps topped the chart.
Accounting for nearly 7 percent of mobile ad requests, Android continues to grow. Three new Android phones launched in the top 10 mobile devices in Q3, shifting market share from Apple but also changing the position of other devices on the market. While Android OS has seen 3.3 percent growth this quarter, the only device that has remained a top mobile device is the Motorola Droid, rising as the fourth most popular device. The iPad's market share increased 16.3 percent this quarter, while the iPhone and iPod declined.
In the U.K., Android devices are growing much faster, with 12.8 percent market share with devices such as the HTC Desire, Wildfire, Magic and Hero. Apple still holds the top three spots with 82.1 percent of the market share. Mobile device connections make up 18.2 percent of the total connections. JiWire recently launched its presence in Europe with an office in the U.K. and a new partnership with British Telecom, expanding its Wi-Fi media channel.
Wi-Fi usage in the U.S. continues to grow, with an 18.4 percent increase in Q3 alone, as well as continued increase in the number of hotspots. Cafes saw impressive growth of free venues with a 36.9 percent increase, as stores, such as Starbucks, switched from paid to free Wi-Fi. Also in the U.S., Brooklyn and the Bronx, which each increased more than 100 percent, took over the first and second spots as the top Wi-Fi usage cities. This sent New York City and San Francisco to third and fourth place. This change is due to Comcast Xfinity increasing its Wi-Fi network on the East Coast, as well as a general increase in Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices.
About the report: JiWire's Mobile Audience Insights Report JiWire's sixth Mobile Audience Insights Report is based on data from approximately 315,000 public Wi-Fi locations, as well as a survey of 1,200 customers randomly selected across JiWire's Wi-Fi Media Channel from July 2010 - September 2010. JiWire serves advertisements to over 30,000 public Wi-Fi locations in North America and records data from every ad request. This report is based on the ad request data collected from July 2010 - September 2010. Quarterly public Wi-Fi location rankings and business model distributions are based on the final day of the quarter.
Contact: http://www.JiWire.com
Companies Concerned About Convergence Of Mobile Devices For Work, Personal Use
Enterprises are increasingly concerned about the potential security risks mobile devices pose to corporate networks and data, especially as employees use the same device for both work and personal activities, according to a study that reveals the need for a layered approach to creating a holistic enterprise security strategy.
Nine of 10 organizations either provide, or soon will provide, mobile devices for employee use, with BlackBerry smartphones outnumbering all other devices.
Enterprises are trying to manage the consumerization of mobile IT. Seventy percent of employees say they are allowed to use their corporate devices for personal activities. A smaller but still significant number of workers -- 48 percent -- say they can use their personally owned mobile devices to connect to corporate systems.
Still, many enterprises are concerned about employees' mixing work-related tasks on their mobile devices with social networking, web conferencing, media sharing and other personal activities. Eight of 10 respondents believe smartphones expose their business to attack, with data leakage cited as the top security concern.
Comment from Graham Titterington, a principal analyst at Ovum and author of the report: Employees will want to use their devices, no matter who owns them, for both their work and personal lives. It is unrealistic to delineate between these uses for employees who are mobile and working out of the office for a large part of their time. That means organizations must establish a holistic security strategy that addresses the consumerization of this fast-growing channel into corporate networks and data.
But protection is spotty. Among the 52 percent of organizations that use some form of authentication for mobile users, 62 percent rely on simple user name and password sign-on. Only 18 percent use Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates, and just nine percent utilize two-factor authentication featuring one-time passwords. One quarter use anti-virus and anti-malware solutions.
Comment from Mike Jones, mobile security specialist at Symantec: For many professionals, the mobile phone has become a mobile office. But that doesn't mean enterprises need to leave themselves vulnerable to data breach, malware and other threats. A layered approach to mobile security allows enterprises to protect themselves and their users at every point of access, even before a phone receives a message or data transmission.
Comment from Roger Dean, director at EEMA: As this new study bears out, putting a smartphone security strategy in place is now a business imperative. But how many organizations have the in-house expertise required to develop and implement a mobile strategy that fits seamlessly with their overall security profile?
Contact: http://www.symantec.com
Nine of 10 organizations either provide, or soon will provide, mobile devices for employee use, with BlackBerry smartphones outnumbering all other devices.
Enterprises are trying to manage the consumerization of mobile IT. Seventy percent of employees say they are allowed to use their corporate devices for personal activities. A smaller but still significant number of workers -- 48 percent -- say they can use their personally owned mobile devices to connect to corporate systems.
Still, many enterprises are concerned about employees' mixing work-related tasks on their mobile devices with social networking, web conferencing, media sharing and other personal activities. Eight of 10 respondents believe smartphones expose their business to attack, with data leakage cited as the top security concern.
Comment from Graham Titterington, a principal analyst at Ovum and author of the report: Employees will want to use their devices, no matter who owns them, for both their work and personal lives. It is unrealistic to delineate between these uses for employees who are mobile and working out of the office for a large part of their time. That means organizations must establish a holistic security strategy that addresses the consumerization of this fast-growing channel into corporate networks and data.
But protection is spotty. Among the 52 percent of organizations that use some form of authentication for mobile users, 62 percent rely on simple user name and password sign-on. Only 18 percent use Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates, and just nine percent utilize two-factor authentication featuring one-time passwords. One quarter use anti-virus and anti-malware solutions.
Comment from Mike Jones, mobile security specialist at Symantec: For many professionals, the mobile phone has become a mobile office. But that doesn't mean enterprises need to leave themselves vulnerable to data breach, malware and other threats. A layered approach to mobile security allows enterprises to protect themselves and their users at every point of access, even before a phone receives a message or data transmission.
Comment from Roger Dean, director at EEMA: As this new study bears out, putting a smartphone security strategy in place is now a business imperative. But how many organizations have the in-house expertise required to develop and implement a mobile strategy that fits seamlessly with their overall security profile?
Contact: http://www.symantec.com
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Two-Thirds Of U.S. Consumers Seek Medical Advice Via the Internet, Social Media
U.S. consumers seeking medical advice are turning to medical websites, social media sites, online communities and informational websites -- often by using mobile devices -- in far greater numbers than the web sites of pharmaceutical companies, according to a survey.
Of the more than two thirds (68 percent) who go online for health information, 11 percent regularly turn to a pharmaceutical company's website to seek information about an illness or medical condition, compared to 92 percent who look to other online resources more frequently.
Pharmaceutical companies that are not fully leveraging multiple online channels are missing a real opportunity to address this captive audience. The fundamental shift from a predominantly one-way company-to-patient dialogue to enabling a patient-to-patient -- and even a patient-to-physician dialogue -- through the evolution of social networks and online communities, has resulted in fragmentation.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents expect pharmaceutical companies to provide information about the medical condition or illness for which they are taking drugs. To address that expectation, pharmaceutical companies must not only provide the right information, but upgrade their websites to create a more dynamic, interactive experience, demonstrate an understanding of their patients' needs, provide holistic solutions and clearly reinforce their brand identity in a two-way dialogue.
There will continue to be significant, disruptive innovations in the pharmaceutical sales and marketing model within the next five years driven by the creation of a more customer-focused business model, further cost-cutting initiatives and the quest by companies to gain a more competitive edge.
Comment from Tom Schwenger, global managing director for Accenture's Life Sciences Sales & Marketing practice: Pharmaceutical companies that embrace innovations such as social networking and communications via mobile devices and integrate and align their communication strategy across multiple channels will be positioned to have a much greater influence on their patients' choices and consequently, realize significant increases in revenue, profitability and sustained competitive advantage. While pharmaceutical companies are methodical in manufacturing their products, there is a clear disconnect in how they communicate with their patients. Companies need to reevaluate their marketing campaigns to ensure they are integrated across all patient touch-points and channels to meet customer demand for health solutions, increase trust and brand loyalty and enhance customer perceptions. The survey results clearly show that pharmaceutical companies must adopt a better understanding of their patient behavior through sophisticated analysis in order to fully capitalize on how patients interact with social media channels and websites. With only 11 percent of survey respondents saying they most often use a pharmaceutical company's web site to seek information about an illness or condition when looking online, pharmaceutical companies have a tremendous opportunity to better connect with patients through multiple digital venues in addition to their own website.
About the survey: The online survey was conducted by Accenture among 852 adult consumers in the U.S. between August 30, 2010 and September 3, 2010. The survey sample is representative by gender, age, and geography of the U.S. population. Consumers polled indicated they or someone in their household was currently taking prescribed medications.
Contact: http://www.accenture.com
Of the more than two thirds (68 percent) who go online for health information, 11 percent regularly turn to a pharmaceutical company's website to seek information about an illness or medical condition, compared to 92 percent who look to other online resources more frequently.
Pharmaceutical companies that are not fully leveraging multiple online channels are missing a real opportunity to address this captive audience. The fundamental shift from a predominantly one-way company-to-patient dialogue to enabling a patient-to-patient -- and even a patient-to-physician dialogue -- through the evolution of social networks and online communities, has resulted in fragmentation.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents expect pharmaceutical companies to provide information about the medical condition or illness for which they are taking drugs. To address that expectation, pharmaceutical companies must not only provide the right information, but upgrade their websites to create a more dynamic, interactive experience, demonstrate an understanding of their patients' needs, provide holistic solutions and clearly reinforce their brand identity in a two-way dialogue.
There will continue to be significant, disruptive innovations in the pharmaceutical sales and marketing model within the next five years driven by the creation of a more customer-focused business model, further cost-cutting initiatives and the quest by companies to gain a more competitive edge.
Comment from Tom Schwenger, global managing director for Accenture's Life Sciences Sales & Marketing practice: Pharmaceutical companies that embrace innovations such as social networking and communications via mobile devices and integrate and align their communication strategy across multiple channels will be positioned to have a much greater influence on their patients' choices and consequently, realize significant increases in revenue, profitability and sustained competitive advantage. While pharmaceutical companies are methodical in manufacturing their products, there is a clear disconnect in how they communicate with their patients. Companies need to reevaluate their marketing campaigns to ensure they are integrated across all patient touch-points and channels to meet customer demand for health solutions, increase trust and brand loyalty and enhance customer perceptions. The survey results clearly show that pharmaceutical companies must adopt a better understanding of their patient behavior through sophisticated analysis in order to fully capitalize on how patients interact with social media channels and websites. With only 11 percent of survey respondents saying they most often use a pharmaceutical company's web site to seek information about an illness or condition when looking online, pharmaceutical companies have a tremendous opportunity to better connect with patients through multiple digital venues in addition to their own website.
About the survey: The online survey was conducted by Accenture among 852 adult consumers in the U.S. between August 30, 2010 and September 3, 2010. The survey sample is representative by gender, age, and geography of the U.S. population. Consumers polled indicated they or someone in their household was currently taking prescribed medications.
Contact: http://www.accenture.com
Use Of Mobile Devices Allows Brands To Personalize Location-Based Offers
New research on consumer spending behavior has identified a "New Era of Pause and Purchase" that shows U.S. consumers are giving more thought to their purchasing decisions and redefining what it means to be a smart shopper today.
Among five key trends currently influencing consumer spending is a phenomenon called "CiCo" (Check In To Check Out). The use of mobile devices and the Internet has allowed brands to personalize location-based offers and perks to entice shoppers to "check in" to share deals with fellow shoppers and incentivize group buying on the go before they "check out."
According to the report:
-- 25 percent of consumers say the use of GPS affects their shopping
-- 23 percent say the availability of smartphones impacts their spending
Implications: CiCo is only the beginning of how consumer loyalty can evolve in the coming decade. The mobile web will become a key shopping portal, working as an intimate, personal digital concierge to revolutionize the shopping experience.
Comment from Mary Hines, vice president of marketing at American Express: The "smart spender" of the past was primarily focused on cost. Today's smart spender is defined by values just as much as, if not more than, price. Furthermore, consumers told us that the "buy buy buy" model that has driven them for decades is now shifting towards a more conscientious and values-driven way of purchasing. You can imagine a time when every purchase and product is, in some way, tailored to a consumer's individual needs. Whether it's a coupon offered only to your immediate social circle, or the ability to allocate a percentage of every purchase to the charity of your choice, we will have more individuality than ever before as consumers. American Express will continue to explore the newest innovations that will help our customers become the smartest shoppers they can possibly be.
About the report: For the development of Consumer Spending Futures: The New Era of Pause and Purchase, American Express commissioned Future:Poll, the research division of The Future Laboratory, to explore the impact of change on current and future consumer spending trends across six key markets: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Mexico. The survey, conducted in August 2010, polled the opinion of 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 65+ years old in each of the six countries, totaling 6,000 respondents. The process utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodology, spanning extensive desk and visual research, online consumer surveys, expert interviews and consumer case studies.
Contact: http://www.americanexpress.com
Contact: To download a PDF of the report, click here.
Among five key trends currently influencing consumer spending is a phenomenon called "CiCo" (Check In To Check Out). The use of mobile devices and the Internet has allowed brands to personalize location-based offers and perks to entice shoppers to "check in" to share deals with fellow shoppers and incentivize group buying on the go before they "check out."
According to the report:
-- 25 percent of consumers say the use of GPS affects their shopping
-- 23 percent say the availability of smartphones impacts their spending
Implications: CiCo is only the beginning of how consumer loyalty can evolve in the coming decade. The mobile web will become a key shopping portal, working as an intimate, personal digital concierge to revolutionize the shopping experience.
Comment from Mary Hines, vice president of marketing at American Express: The "smart spender" of the past was primarily focused on cost. Today's smart spender is defined by values just as much as, if not more than, price. Furthermore, consumers told us that the "buy buy buy" model that has driven them for decades is now shifting towards a more conscientious and values-driven way of purchasing. You can imagine a time when every purchase and product is, in some way, tailored to a consumer's individual needs. Whether it's a coupon offered only to your immediate social circle, or the ability to allocate a percentage of every purchase to the charity of your choice, we will have more individuality than ever before as consumers. American Express will continue to explore the newest innovations that will help our customers become the smartest shoppers they can possibly be.
About the report: For the development of Consumer Spending Futures: The New Era of Pause and Purchase, American Express commissioned Future:Poll, the research division of The Future Laboratory, to explore the impact of change on current and future consumer spending trends across six key markets: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Mexico. The survey, conducted in August 2010, polled the opinion of 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 65+ years old in each of the six countries, totaling 6,000 respondents. The process utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodology, spanning extensive desk and visual research, online consumer surveys, expert interviews and consumer case studies.
Contact: http://www.americanexpress.com
Contact: To download a PDF of the report, click here.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
3M Survey Finds -- Surprise! -- Everybody Loves 3M Film Solutions For Notebooks
3M's multi-layer optical films can increase power savings in notebook displays, a 3M survey finds.
The additional brightness budget can be used to extend battery life and/or reduce the weight of the battery, 3M says.
About the survey: The market survey involved 1,189 respondents. It was conducted by 3M. 85 percent of those surveyed liked the display with 3M film solutions not only for its brightness, but also enhanced picture quality. Also, 89 percent of those surveyed are willing to pay more for a display with 3M solution. 3M's optical film solution not only increases the brightness, but can also enhance the display's form factor.
Contact: http://www.3M.com
The additional brightness budget can be used to extend battery life and/or reduce the weight of the battery, 3M says.
About the survey: The market survey involved 1,189 respondents. It was conducted by 3M. 85 percent of those surveyed liked the display with 3M film solutions not only for its brightness, but also enhanced picture quality. Also, 89 percent of those surveyed are willing to pay more for a display with 3M solution. 3M's optical film solution not only increases the brightness, but can also enhance the display's form factor.
Contact: http://www.3M.com
iPhones Preferred In Law Offices
iPhones are the primary device of choice among 50.3 percent of respondents in law offices, according to a survey, which also found that 27.3 percent use BlackBerrys; 9.8 percent use Android-based devices; 2.3 percent use Palm devices.
Twenty-seven percent of respondents plan on switching their primary mobile device in the next year. Of those planning to switch devices, 65 percent plan on switching to an iPhone; 21 percent plan on switching to an Android device; only 7 percent plan on switching to BlackBerry.
About the survey: All legal professionals and law students from any law firm or law school were invited to participate in the survey, regardless of size and location. The survey aimed to determine to what extent lawyers and law students are now using Apple and Mac products, and whether there is clear evidence of an increasing trend of the legal industry "going Mac" in the future. Total respondents were 835.
Contact: http://www.goclio.com
Twenty-seven percent of respondents plan on switching their primary mobile device in the next year. Of those planning to switch devices, 65 percent plan on switching to an iPhone; 21 percent plan on switching to an Android device; only 7 percent plan on switching to BlackBerry.
About the survey: All legal professionals and law students from any law firm or law school were invited to participate in the survey, regardless of size and location. The survey aimed to determine to what extent lawyers and law students are now using Apple and Mac products, and whether there is clear evidence of an increasing trend of the legal industry "going Mac" in the future. Total respondents were 835.
Contact: http://www.goclio.com
Mobile Workforce: Cross-Generational Technology Gap Is A Myth
The cross-generational tech chasm in the workplace is a myth as overall mobile worker preferences and behavioral characteristics across age groups and geographies are similar, a mobile workforce report finds. In fact, the median age of a mobile employee is somewhere around 46.
The report, which drew from the experiences of more than 1,100 mobile employees, found that personal smartphone liability played a much bigger factor on device usage than age.
The mobile employee survey also uncovered:
-- iPhone and Android will lead the smartphone market by 2012 among the mobile workforce.
-- Globally, smartphone penetration among mobile employees outpaced the consumer market, with 69 percent now using those devices for work.
-- The laptop is becoming the new desktop as the smartphone and tablet replace the old laptop. Over a third of mobile employees (37 percent) believe that a mobile device will usurp the laptop for general business purposes in 2011, and 27 percent believe it will be an iPad or other tablet.
-- 34 percent of mobile employees do not use their smartphones for work if they are footing the bill -- having a direct and negative impact on their productivity.
-- 22 percent of mobile employees breach corporate policy using an unmanaged smartphone for work when their companies have a stricter smartphone policy in place.
Comment from JP Finnell, enterprise analyst at GigaOM Pro: The iPass research findings confirm the demand to connect personally-owned Apple IOS and Android devices to the corporate network is not limited to a specific age group. The MWC data surfaces that the underlying security risks are still a threat and need to be mitigated. This presents an opportunity for corporate IT to jointly develop enterprise mobility policies that leverage enterprise functionality in recent releases of IOS and Android with the capabilities of third-party enterprise mobility service providers.
Comment from Steven Wastie, senior vice president marketing and product management at iPass: Today nearly a third of people use an unmanaged smartphone for work. Unmanaged smartphones are a significant risk to enterprises. Twenty percent of these mobile employees have experienced a relevant security issue with their smartphone containing business data lost, stolen, infected or hacked.
About the report: The iPass Mobile Workforce Report is published quarterly and based on two sources, more than 1,100 survey responses from mobile enterprise employees between October 10 and October 31, 2010 (48 percent from North America, 37 percent from Europe and 12 percent from Asia Pac); enterprise mobile broadband usage data collected by iPass across its user base from July 1 through August 30, 2010.
Contact: http://www.iPass.com
The report, which drew from the experiences of more than 1,100 mobile employees, found that personal smartphone liability played a much bigger factor on device usage than age.
The mobile employee survey also uncovered:
-- iPhone and Android will lead the smartphone market by 2012 among the mobile workforce.
-- Globally, smartphone penetration among mobile employees outpaced the consumer market, with 69 percent now using those devices for work.
-- The laptop is becoming the new desktop as the smartphone and tablet replace the old laptop. Over a third of mobile employees (37 percent) believe that a mobile device will usurp the laptop for general business purposes in 2011, and 27 percent believe it will be an iPad or other tablet.
-- 34 percent of mobile employees do not use their smartphones for work if they are footing the bill -- having a direct and negative impact on their productivity.
-- 22 percent of mobile employees breach corporate policy using an unmanaged smartphone for work when their companies have a stricter smartphone policy in place.
Comment from JP Finnell, enterprise analyst at GigaOM Pro: The iPass research findings confirm the demand to connect personally-owned Apple IOS and Android devices to the corporate network is not limited to a specific age group. The MWC data surfaces that the underlying security risks are still a threat and need to be mitigated. This presents an opportunity for corporate IT to jointly develop enterprise mobility policies that leverage enterprise functionality in recent releases of IOS and Android with the capabilities of third-party enterprise mobility service providers.
Comment from Steven Wastie, senior vice president marketing and product management at iPass: Today nearly a third of people use an unmanaged smartphone for work. Unmanaged smartphones are a significant risk to enterprises. Twenty percent of these mobile employees have experienced a relevant security issue with their smartphone containing business data lost, stolen, infected or hacked.
About the report: The iPass Mobile Workforce Report is published quarterly and based on two sources, more than 1,100 survey responses from mobile enterprise employees between October 10 and October 31, 2010 (48 percent from North America, 37 percent from Europe and 12 percent from Asia Pac); enterprise mobile broadband usage data collected by iPass across its user base from July 1 through August 30, 2010.
Contact: http://www.iPass.com
Saturday, November 13, 2010
2.7 Million Fiber Broadband Subscribers Added Globally in 3Q-2010
Global fixed broadband subscribers increased by 1.4 percent from 456.5 million in the second quarter of 2010 to 463 million in the third quarter of 2010, according to new research.
Among the fixed broadband platforms, the major subscriber net addition was in the fiber segment. There were 2.7 million fiber broadband subscriber net additions in the third quarter of 2010. In terms of total fiber broadband subscriptions, the Asia-Pacific region owns the lion's share of the fiber broadband market representing more than 80 percent of the global total, followed by North America.
Except some countries such as Sweden, Italy and Norway, fiber broadband adoption in Western Europe lags behind Asia and North America.
In terms of broadband penetration, North America and Western Europe have the highest fixed broadband penetration. Currently, broadband penetration in Latin America is low compared to other regions of the world. Brazil is the largest broadband market in Latin America with almost 20 percent broadband penetration. Brazil's government has made plans to promote broadband access across the country by deploying a national broadband backbone and lowering prices, which have formed one of the barriers to broadband adoption in the country. Brazilian fixed broadband subscriber numbers are expected to reach 12.7 million by the end of 2011.
Broadband penetration is one of the essentials for economic development of a country, so many governments are planning to increase broadband penetration. Global fixed broadband subscriber numbers will exceed 491 million by the end of 2011.
Comment from ABI Research digital home practice director Jason Blackwell: DSL broadband remains the dominant platform, although there is strong growth in fiber broadband subscriptions.
Comment from ABI research associate Khin Sandi Lynn: In order to provide consumers with advanced services such as high definition movies, video on demand, and other interactive applications, Western European countries will need to improve existing broadband infrastructure to roll out fiber optics.
About the study: ABI Research's "Broadband Subscribers Market Data" study, which is updated biannually, profiles subscriber trends categorized by operator, by country, and by technology. Detailed market trends and market forecast information for key regions and countries around the globe are provided where available.
Contact: http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1002969
Among the fixed broadband platforms, the major subscriber net addition was in the fiber segment. There were 2.7 million fiber broadband subscriber net additions in the third quarter of 2010. In terms of total fiber broadband subscriptions, the Asia-Pacific region owns the lion's share of the fiber broadband market representing more than 80 percent of the global total, followed by North America.
Except some countries such as Sweden, Italy and Norway, fiber broadband adoption in Western Europe lags behind Asia and North America.
In terms of broadband penetration, North America and Western Europe have the highest fixed broadband penetration. Currently, broadband penetration in Latin America is low compared to other regions of the world. Brazil is the largest broadband market in Latin America with almost 20 percent broadband penetration. Brazil's government has made plans to promote broadband access across the country by deploying a national broadband backbone and lowering prices, which have formed one of the barriers to broadband adoption in the country. Brazilian fixed broadband subscriber numbers are expected to reach 12.7 million by the end of 2011.
Broadband penetration is one of the essentials for economic development of a country, so many governments are planning to increase broadband penetration. Global fixed broadband subscriber numbers will exceed 491 million by the end of 2011.
Comment from ABI Research digital home practice director Jason Blackwell: DSL broadband remains the dominant platform, although there is strong growth in fiber broadband subscriptions.
Comment from ABI research associate Khin Sandi Lynn: In order to provide consumers with advanced services such as high definition movies, video on demand, and other interactive applications, Western European countries will need to improve existing broadband infrastructure to roll out fiber optics.
About the study: ABI Research's "Broadband Subscribers Market Data" study, which is updated biannually, profiles subscriber trends categorized by operator, by country, and by technology. Detailed market trends and market forecast information for key regions and countries around the globe are provided where available.
Contact: http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1002969
Erosion Expected In RIM's Enterprise Smartphone Market Share, But BlackBerry Will Claim Top Spot in 2015
Global smartphone shipments to mobile business customers will to grow at a CAGR of 15 percent, according to new research. The mobile business customer smartphone installed base will exceed 30 percent worldwide; in North America, it will exceed 65 percent.
But behind these numbers will be a hyper-competitive marketplace defined by the operating system.
Comment from ABI Research enterprise practice director Dan Shey: With the iPhone and now Android, business customers simply have more choices. While each region will have a different set of competitive dynamics, within a few years regional installed base market shares of 50 percent+ will be a thing of the past.Security, applications, and device management capabilities will be key determinants of success for each platform -- but not necessarily in that order.
Relevant worldwide and regional installed base statistics from the analysis include:
-- North America: BlackBerry will maintain its leadership position but Apple and Android will gain a solid presence. If Verizon launches the iPhone, iOS market share will grow even more.
-- Western Europe: Android's share will grow the most as Windows' share slips.
-- Latin America: Installed base share will shift from a customer base using mainly Windows to one shared nearly equally by Windows, Symbian and BlackBerry.
-- Asia Pacific: Symbian's market share will drop significantly but Symbian will still maintain its lead; Android will reach the number two position.
About the study: ABI Research's "Enterprise Smartphones" study provides an in-depth view of the smartphone ecosystem driving growth of these devices among mobile business customers. Analysis reviews the features most valuable to business customers on a platform-by-platform basis. This analysis is quantified at the regional level providing a market share analysis of shipments and installed base for enterprise customers. Shipments and installed base are also determined for industry verticals and for four sizes of business for the Asia Pacific, North American and Western European markets.
Contact: http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1005776
But behind these numbers will be a hyper-competitive marketplace defined by the operating system.
Comment from ABI Research enterprise practice director Dan Shey: With the iPhone and now Android, business customers simply have more choices. While each region will have a different set of competitive dynamics, within a few years regional installed base market shares of 50 percent+ will be a thing of the past.Security, applications, and device management capabilities will be key determinants of success for each platform -- but not necessarily in that order.
Relevant worldwide and regional installed base statistics from the analysis include:
-- North America: BlackBerry will maintain its leadership position but Apple and Android will gain a solid presence. If Verizon launches the iPhone, iOS market share will grow even more.
-- Western Europe: Android's share will grow the most as Windows' share slips.
-- Latin America: Installed base share will shift from a customer base using mainly Windows to one shared nearly equally by Windows, Symbian and BlackBerry.
-- Asia Pacific: Symbian's market share will drop significantly but Symbian will still maintain its lead; Android will reach the number two position.
About the study: ABI Research's "Enterprise Smartphones" study provides an in-depth view of the smartphone ecosystem driving growth of these devices among mobile business customers. Analysis reviews the features most valuable to business customers on a platform-by-platform basis. This analysis is quantified at the regional level providing a market share analysis of shipments and installed base for enterprise customers. Shipments and installed base are also determined for industry verticals and for four sizes of business for the Asia Pacific, North American and Western European markets.
Contact: http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1005776
Friday, November 12, 2010
iPad Boosts Mobile Broadband Device Market; Smartphones Overtaking Mobile Phones
The current mobile broadband device and phones market is increasingly driven by embedded devices and smartphones, with injections of growth coming from new touch screen form factors such as the tablet, notably the Apple iPad, and e-readers like the Amazon Kindle, according to a new report. The fierce competition between smartphone operating systems is also pushing the market, with Android and Windows 7 devices showing a strong response to the popularity of the iPhone. As LTE rolls out, these trends will continue, with device competition intensifying around embedded devices and high-end ultra-smartphones.
2G/3G and LTE mobile broadband devices and subscribers:
-- Mobile broadband card sales are expected to grow 21 percent in 2010 over 2009, driven by the emerging tablet segment (namely the iPad) and continued adoption of HSPA mobile broadband cards
-- The mobile broadband card market, including PC and embedded cards that enable broadband access via W-CDMA/HSPA, CDMA2000/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, and LTE mobile networks, will reach $20 billion by 2014
-- The number of mobile broadband subscribers is expected to hit 1.8 billion by 2014
-- LTE will be predominantly PC-based (laptops, netbooks, dongles, etc.) for at least the first 5 years of deployment, with a small range of LTE smartphones hitting the market in 2011, limiting 'phone-based' subscribers to a very small minority
-- An LTE iPhone could rapidly change this forecast
Select highlights: 2G/3G mobile, LTE, and WIFI phones and subscribers:
-- Smartphone revenue grew to 46 percent of global mobile phone sales in the second quarter of 2010, driven by the popularity of Apple's iPhone and Android and Windows Mobile 7 handsets
-- The number of mobile subscribers is forecast by Infonetics to hit 6.5 billion by 2014
-- By the end of 2010, Infonetics expects 1.2 billion standard mobile phones and 3G smartphones will have been sold worldwide
-- Nokia maintained clear leadership in the mobile phone market in the first half of 2010, although its market share continued to fall, slipping to about a quarter of the global market
About the reports: Infonetics' biannual 2G/3G Mobile, LTE, and WiFi Phones and Subscribers market size, market share, and forecast report tracks 3G and LTE smartphones, standard mobile phones (GSM, W-CDMA, CDMA, CDMA2000), dual mode cellular/WiFi phones, enterprise single-mode WiFi phones, and mobile subscribers. Companies tracked include Apple, Cisco, D-Link, HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Polycom, RIM, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Vocera, ZTE and others. Smartphone operating systems tracked include Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Linux, Palm, Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Infonetics' quarterly 2G/3G and LTE Mobile Broadband Devices and Subscribers market size, market share, and forecasts report tracks W-CDMA/HSPA, CDMA2000/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, and LTE mobile broadband PC cards, embedded mobile broadband cards (PC, netbook, handheld mobile Internet device), and phone- and PC-based mobile broadband subscribers. The report also tracks mobile broadband routers and netbooks by operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux, other). Companies tracked include Acer, Asus, D-Link, Dell, HP, Huawei, Kyocera, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, NETGEAR, Novatel, Option, Samsung, Sierra Wireless, SonicWALL, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, ZTE, and others.
Contact: http://www.infonetics.com
2G/3G and LTE mobile broadband devices and subscribers:
-- Mobile broadband card sales are expected to grow 21 percent in 2010 over 2009, driven by the emerging tablet segment (namely the iPad) and continued adoption of HSPA mobile broadband cards
-- The mobile broadband card market, including PC and embedded cards that enable broadband access via W-CDMA/HSPA, CDMA2000/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, and LTE mobile networks, will reach $20 billion by 2014
-- The number of mobile broadband subscribers is expected to hit 1.8 billion by 2014
-- LTE will be predominantly PC-based (laptops, netbooks, dongles, etc.) for at least the first 5 years of deployment, with a small range of LTE smartphones hitting the market in 2011, limiting 'phone-based' subscribers to a very small minority
-- An LTE iPhone could rapidly change this forecast
Select highlights: 2G/3G mobile, LTE, and WIFI phones and subscribers:
-- Smartphone revenue grew to 46 percent of global mobile phone sales in the second quarter of 2010, driven by the popularity of Apple's iPhone and Android and Windows Mobile 7 handsets
-- The number of mobile subscribers is forecast by Infonetics to hit 6.5 billion by 2014
-- By the end of 2010, Infonetics expects 1.2 billion standard mobile phones and 3G smartphones will have been sold worldwide
-- Nokia maintained clear leadership in the mobile phone market in the first half of 2010, although its market share continued to fall, slipping to about a quarter of the global market
About the reports: Infonetics' biannual 2G/3G Mobile, LTE, and WiFi Phones and Subscribers market size, market share, and forecast report tracks 3G and LTE smartphones, standard mobile phones (GSM, W-CDMA, CDMA, CDMA2000), dual mode cellular/WiFi phones, enterprise single-mode WiFi phones, and mobile subscribers. Companies tracked include Apple, Cisco, D-Link, HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Polycom, RIM, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Vocera, ZTE and others. Smartphone operating systems tracked include Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Linux, Palm, Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Infonetics' quarterly 2G/3G and LTE Mobile Broadband Devices and Subscribers market size, market share, and forecasts report tracks W-CDMA/HSPA, CDMA2000/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, and LTE mobile broadband PC cards, embedded mobile broadband cards (PC, netbook, handheld mobile Internet device), and phone- and PC-based mobile broadband subscribers. The report also tracks mobile broadband routers and netbooks by operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux, other). Companies tracked include Acer, Asus, D-Link, Dell, HP, Huawei, Kyocera, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, NETGEAR, Novatel, Option, Samsung, Sierra Wireless, SonicWALL, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, ZTE, and others.
Contact: http://www.infonetics.com
LTE Infrastructure Forecasts Up, Along With Operator Commitments To LTE Networks
HSPA+ has become the clear bridge between 3G (e.g., W-CDMA and CDMA2000) and LTE, according to a new survey. Current networks won't disappear anytime soon and early LTE networks will only carry data while voice services will fall back to circuit switched networks before LTE deployments start to ramp up in 2012. LTE is at a very early stage with HSPA/HSPA+ rollouts, which are poised to enjoy a long tail.
Report highlights: LTE infrastructure and subscribers:
-- The forecast for the worldwide LTE infrastructure market has increased: expect it to grow roughly 10-fold from 2010 to 2014, to $11.5 billion
-- The market is fueled by macrocell eNodeB deployments and the rapidly growing number of operators committing to LTE
-- Infonetics increased its LTE subscriber forecast as well, now anticipating close to 165 million worldwide by 2014
Highlights: LTE deployment strategies survey:
-- By the end of 2010, a dozen LTE networks are expected to go live, and there are currently over 100 commitments by service providers around the world to deploy LTE networks
-- 72 percent of operators Infonetics surveyed about their LTE deployment plans say they will follow the W-CDMA-to-HSPA+-to-LTE deployment path
-- 94 percent of operators surveyed will deploy IMS (voice over LTE, or VoLTE), and 39 percent expect to launch a voice service over LTE one year from network launch
About the survey: For the LTE Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey, Infonetics interviewed roughly one-quarter of the number of operators that had committed to deploy LTE as of August 2010. Respondents are purchase decision-makers at service providers in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), North America, and Asia-Pacific that together represent 46 percent of the world's telecom carrier revenue and 47 percent of telecom capex. The survey asked incumbent, competitive, and mobile operators about their LTE network buildout plans, deployment migration scenarios, challenges, technical and commercial drivers, and LTE services, features, and devices they plan to offer.
Contact: http://www.infonetics.com/
Report highlights: LTE infrastructure and subscribers:
-- The forecast for the worldwide LTE infrastructure market has increased: expect it to grow roughly 10-fold from 2010 to 2014, to $11.5 billion
-- The market is fueled by macrocell eNodeB deployments and the rapidly growing number of operators committing to LTE
-- Infonetics increased its LTE subscriber forecast as well, now anticipating close to 165 million worldwide by 2014
Highlights: LTE deployment strategies survey:
-- By the end of 2010, a dozen LTE networks are expected to go live, and there are currently over 100 commitments by service providers around the world to deploy LTE networks
-- 72 percent of operators Infonetics surveyed about their LTE deployment plans say they will follow the W-CDMA-to-HSPA+-to-LTE deployment path
-- 94 percent of operators surveyed will deploy IMS (voice over LTE, or VoLTE), and 39 percent expect to launch a voice service over LTE one year from network launch
About the survey: For the LTE Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey, Infonetics interviewed roughly one-quarter of the number of operators that had committed to deploy LTE as of August 2010. Respondents are purchase decision-makers at service providers in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), North America, and Asia-Pacific that together represent 46 percent of the world's telecom carrier revenue and 47 percent of telecom capex. The survey asked incumbent, competitive, and mobile operators about their LTE network buildout plans, deployment migration scenarios, challenges, technical and commercial drivers, and LTE services, features, and devices they plan to offer.
Contact: http://www.infonetics.com/
Interactive Text Messaging Could Improve In-Home Customer Service And Strengthen Loyalty
The standard 3-5 hour in-home service appointment windows are costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars and causing 51 percent of consumers who have waited for a service provider to feel like prisoners in their own homes, a survey finds.
Furthermore, the majority of consumers surveyed -- 61 percent -- would prefer text message notifications providing one hour's notice to ease the frustrations and inconvenience experienced with home appliance, cable, satellite and broadband service provider appointments.
Many service providers are being criticized for limiting the convenience of how consumers schedule maintenance, repair and installation appointments. Amid intensifying competition and heightened customer service expectations, the results show how greater consumer flexibility, control and transparency could help build the long-lasting relationships and loyalty that are needed for service provider growth.
Key survey findings include:
-- 72 million Americans feel service providers are making them a prisoner in their own homes: Three-quarters (76 percent) of consumers are inconvenienced by traditional multi-hour service windows. These experiences have left half of respondents "feeling like a prisoner in their home". This translates into approximately 72 million Americans.
-- Appointments costing $13.4 billion1 in lost workplace productivity: Eighty-one percent of consumers report having to take time off from work or adjust their schedules, to ensure they are home during the service appointment window. This translates into more than $13.4 billion in lost productivity for U.S. businesses.
-- Consumers report text messaging is the answer: If given the option, the majority of consumers would opt-in for text notifications with more specific technician arrival times. Specifically: Almost two-thirds (61 percent), equivalent to more than 108 million Americans, would be interested in text messages providing a one-hour notice of the technician's arrival, and over half (56 percent) would provide their mobile number to receive these types of text messages; sixty percent indicated text messaging would be a more convenient way to interact or reschedule appointments; more than half (54 percent) of survey respondents stated offering a shorter window of time for scheduled service appointments would greatly improve their satisfaction and overall perception of the company.
A desire for text messaging status updates is not limited to Generation Y. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents aged 18-54 indicated they would be interested in receiving text message alerts providing a one-hour notice of the technician's arrival time.
Comment from Mark Friedman, chief marketing and business development officer of SoundBite Communications: This survey shows today's consumer clearly wants in-home service providers to be more respectful of their time, and to use the latest technology to better communicate expected arrivals. Businesses simply cannot survive under the status quo and should provide new options that give customers greater control over the ultimate touch point: in-home service. Text messaging is clearly a viable and high-demand solution to build long-term loyalty and customer satisfaction.
About the survey: The Harris Poll National Quorum was conducted by telephone within the United States between September 29 and October 4, 2010 among 1,008 adults (aged 18 and over), of whom 662 have waited for a service provider to install, repair or replace a home appliance, television or Internet service in their home. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, number of adults in the household, and number of phone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
Contact: http://www.soundbite.com/solutions/industry-solutions/in-home-service-appointments-solution.
Furthermore, the majority of consumers surveyed -- 61 percent -- would prefer text message notifications providing one hour's notice to ease the frustrations and inconvenience experienced with home appliance, cable, satellite and broadband service provider appointments.
Many service providers are being criticized for limiting the convenience of how consumers schedule maintenance, repair and installation appointments. Amid intensifying competition and heightened customer service expectations, the results show how greater consumer flexibility, control and transparency could help build the long-lasting relationships and loyalty that are needed for service provider growth.
Key survey findings include:
-- 72 million Americans feel service providers are making them a prisoner in their own homes: Three-quarters (76 percent) of consumers are inconvenienced by traditional multi-hour service windows. These experiences have left half of respondents "feeling like a prisoner in their home". This translates into approximately 72 million Americans.
-- Appointments costing $13.4 billion1 in lost workplace productivity: Eighty-one percent of consumers report having to take time off from work or adjust their schedules, to ensure they are home during the service appointment window. This translates into more than $13.4 billion in lost productivity for U.S. businesses.
-- Consumers report text messaging is the answer: If given the option, the majority of consumers would opt-in for text notifications with more specific technician arrival times. Specifically: Almost two-thirds (61 percent), equivalent to more than 108 million Americans, would be interested in text messages providing a one-hour notice of the technician's arrival, and over half (56 percent) would provide their mobile number to receive these types of text messages; sixty percent indicated text messaging would be a more convenient way to interact or reschedule appointments; more than half (54 percent) of survey respondents stated offering a shorter window of time for scheduled service appointments would greatly improve their satisfaction and overall perception of the company.
A desire for text messaging status updates is not limited to Generation Y. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents aged 18-54 indicated they would be interested in receiving text message alerts providing a one-hour notice of the technician's arrival time.
Comment from Mark Friedman, chief marketing and business development officer of SoundBite Communications: This survey shows today's consumer clearly wants in-home service providers to be more respectful of their time, and to use the latest technology to better communicate expected arrivals. Businesses simply cannot survive under the status quo and should provide new options that give customers greater control over the ultimate touch point: in-home service. Text messaging is clearly a viable and high-demand solution to build long-term loyalty and customer satisfaction.
About the survey: The Harris Poll National Quorum was conducted by telephone within the United States between September 29 and October 4, 2010 among 1,008 adults (aged 18 and over), of whom 662 have waited for a service provider to install, repair or replace a home appliance, television or Internet service in their home. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, number of adults in the household, and number of phone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
Contact: http://www.soundbite.com/solutions/industry-solutions/in-home-service-appointments-solution.
Gadget-Owning Parents Are Frustrated With Clutter of Cords
Americans love gadgets and parents in particular have more electronic devices in their households than the general adult population, according to a poll. The survey found that three-quarters (75 percent) of parents rely on their mobile devices to help them accomplish things they need to do during the day, and keeping them charged is part of the daily to-do lists of 65 percent of parents. However, 62 percent of parents -- and 59 percent of adults -- dislike the cords that come with their gadgets and 68 percent feel frustrated by cords cluttering up the home.
The aesthetic impact charging cords have on homes is also a concern for up to 82 percent of parents and 76 percent of adults, who agree that less charger cord clutter would improve their home decor. According to the survey, keeping living spaces neat makes 77 percent of adults and 80 percent of parents less stressed, and up to 84 percent of parents and 79 percent of adults feel that having one place to charge their devices would keep them better organized.
With 74 percent of U.S. households owning at least one mobile phone, they want a simpler way to keep them powered -- 79 percent of adults believe that being able to charge their devices wirelessly would make life easier. Parents are particularly enthusiastic about being able to charge their devices wirelessly compared to the general adult population, with 86 percent in agreement that wirelessly charging their devices would make their life easier. This sentiment can be linked to the fact that up to 85 percent of parents and 78 percent of adults feel that it's annoying to have one charger for each device.
Comment from Bob Jacobs, Duracell marketing director-North America: As our lives become increasingly mobile and we rely on devices to get through the day, keeping them fully charged is crucial.
About the survey: The national survey was conducted online by IPSOS Public Affairs on behalf of Duracell October 19-21, 2010 using a national sample of 1,723 adults over the age of 18 -- including 500 parents living with children under 18. Duracell offers the myGrid charging pad to help alleviate frustrations consumers experience with keeping devices charged.
Contact: http://ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=5039
The aesthetic impact charging cords have on homes is also a concern for up to 82 percent of parents and 76 percent of adults, who agree that less charger cord clutter would improve their home decor. According to the survey, keeping living spaces neat makes 77 percent of adults and 80 percent of parents less stressed, and up to 84 percent of parents and 79 percent of adults feel that having one place to charge their devices would keep them better organized.
With 74 percent of U.S. households owning at least one mobile phone, they want a simpler way to keep them powered -- 79 percent of adults believe that being able to charge their devices wirelessly would make life easier. Parents are particularly enthusiastic about being able to charge their devices wirelessly compared to the general adult population, with 86 percent in agreement that wirelessly charging their devices would make their life easier. This sentiment can be linked to the fact that up to 85 percent of parents and 78 percent of adults feel that it's annoying to have one charger for each device.
Comment from Bob Jacobs, Duracell marketing director-North America: As our lives become increasingly mobile and we rely on devices to get through the day, keeping them fully charged is crucial.
About the survey: The national survey was conducted online by IPSOS Public Affairs on behalf of Duracell October 19-21, 2010 using a national sample of 1,723 adults over the age of 18 -- including 500 parents living with children under 18. Duracell offers the myGrid charging pad to help alleviate frustrations consumers experience with keeping devices charged.
Contact: http://ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=5039
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wireless Service Providers Say the "Capacity Crunch" Impacts Brand Perception
Mobile networks are struggling to cope. More than 60 percent of wireless service providers interviewed in a recent survey are experiencing data congestion, with 20 percent registering severe overload at specific times. Service providers in the Middle East and Africa report that this overload poses serious consequences for their brand reputation and has led to an increase in customer complaints around service quality; Asian and American operators say it is contributing to churn.
Other key findings:
-- Data demand is driven by smartphones and laptops with mobile broadband: In the Americas and Europe smartphones are driving data demand, accounting for more than 40 percent of total data consumption. In Asia, the Middle East and Africa, laptops with mobile broadband is the key driver. A further factor fueling demand is flat-rate data tariffs where "bandwidth hogs," although comprising only an estimated 2-3 percent of the customer base, are consuming approximately 30 percent of the network's capacity, contributing to further service degradation for the overall user base.
-- Quality of service design is a major challenge: 75 percent of wireless service providers surveyed view end-to-end quality of service (QOS) design - which ensures a satisfactory customer experience during a voice call or data transfer - as having the greatest impact on their bottom line through increased customer support costs and customer churn. Respondents stated that specialist planning, design and capacity management tools are required to prevent issues such as loss of signal, cross-talk and slow service response time.
-- Heavy network expansion is underway; Ethernet is a priority: Wireless service providers see building out additional network capacity as essential, with 97 percent of those surveyed stating they intended to roll out Ethernet to alleviate congestion. Respondents said that the gap between the growth in demand for capacity as compared to revenues received for data services was a matter of concern when considering extra investment.
Comment from Teresa Cottam, research director of Telesperience, the firm that conducted the research: Wireless service providers want to provide a good quality of service for customers, but the challenge they face is that they have been caught in a 'perfect storm' with data demand doubling year on year, yet revenues are static due to flat-rate pricing. By blindly throwing capacity at the problem, it becomes harder for operators to cope with data growth. A smarter approach to capacity management and network planning is needed for future success, with quality of service providing the competitive differentiator.
Comment from Rebecca Prudhomme, vice president of product and solutions marketing at Amdocs: The capacity crunch is not just a network problem, it's a widespread commercial and brand issue that wireless service providers need to address in the short and long term. While service providers are adding extra capacity to their networks in the short term, they need to explore policy management solutions to enforce traffic flows and enable premium rate charging. But policy management on its own will not solve the problem. It's about combining policy with charging capabilities and network knowledge. Rigorous engineering of network capacity is critical to ensure customer experience is not compromised and that brand equity is protected.
About the survey: The survey outlines the scale and significance of the data capacity crunch for mobile network service providers and their customers. The survey examined wireless service providers' strategies for coping with the increasing demand for data on their networks while maintaining acceptable service quality. The survey took place last month and is based on 30 interviews with senior executives and network planners from 30 wireless service providers worldwide. The survey was conducted by Telesperience, a UK-based telecoms analyst firm focused on how technology impacts the operational and commercial performance of telecom service providers and the customer experience they deliver.
Contact: http://www.amdocs.com
Other key findings:
-- Data demand is driven by smartphones and laptops with mobile broadband: In the Americas and Europe smartphones are driving data demand, accounting for more than 40 percent of total data consumption. In Asia, the Middle East and Africa, laptops with mobile broadband is the key driver. A further factor fueling demand is flat-rate data tariffs where "bandwidth hogs," although comprising only an estimated 2-3 percent of the customer base, are consuming approximately 30 percent of the network's capacity, contributing to further service degradation for the overall user base.
-- Quality of service design is a major challenge: 75 percent of wireless service providers surveyed view end-to-end quality of service (QOS) design - which ensures a satisfactory customer experience during a voice call or data transfer - as having the greatest impact on their bottom line through increased customer support costs and customer churn. Respondents stated that specialist planning, design and capacity management tools are required to prevent issues such as loss of signal, cross-talk and slow service response time.
-- Heavy network expansion is underway; Ethernet is a priority: Wireless service providers see building out additional network capacity as essential, with 97 percent of those surveyed stating they intended to roll out Ethernet to alleviate congestion. Respondents said that the gap between the growth in demand for capacity as compared to revenues received for data services was a matter of concern when considering extra investment.
Comment from Teresa Cottam, research director of Telesperience, the firm that conducted the research: Wireless service providers want to provide a good quality of service for customers, but the challenge they face is that they have been caught in a 'perfect storm' with data demand doubling year on year, yet revenues are static due to flat-rate pricing. By blindly throwing capacity at the problem, it becomes harder for operators to cope with data growth. A smarter approach to capacity management and network planning is needed for future success, with quality of service providing the competitive differentiator.
Comment from Rebecca Prudhomme, vice president of product and solutions marketing at Amdocs: The capacity crunch is not just a network problem, it's a widespread commercial and brand issue that wireless service providers need to address in the short and long term. While service providers are adding extra capacity to their networks in the short term, they need to explore policy management solutions to enforce traffic flows and enable premium rate charging. But policy management on its own will not solve the problem. It's about combining policy with charging capabilities and network knowledge. Rigorous engineering of network capacity is critical to ensure customer experience is not compromised and that brand equity is protected.
About the survey: The survey outlines the scale and significance of the data capacity crunch for mobile network service providers and their customers. The survey examined wireless service providers' strategies for coping with the increasing demand for data on their networks while maintaining acceptable service quality. The survey took place last month and is based on 30 interviews with senior executives and network planners from 30 wireless service providers worldwide. The survey was conducted by Telesperience, a UK-based telecoms analyst firm focused on how technology impacts the operational and commercial performance of telecom service providers and the customer experience they deliver.
Contact: http://www.amdocs.com
Consumer Use Of Health-Related Mobile Applications Will Grow
Mobile apps are being embraced by a growing population of "Smartphone" users (an 8 percent increase in uptake in the last year). Consequently, use of healthcare-related apps will mirror this growth in the coming year, as consumers acclimate to "ambient healthcare," i.e., the implementation of the myriad digital, mobile and social tools available for health management.
The uptake in mobile communications is largely being driven by Smartphone usage. While only 27 percent of consumers polled have ever downloaded an app of any kind, this represented an 8 percent increase in usage from the previous year and the concentration of Smartphone users within this population was a full 67 percent. The overall number of consumers who stated they would be willing to use a mobile device to obtain health information also increased in the past year, from 37 to 48 percent.
Additional findings from this research include:
-- While only a small fraction of consumers have downloaded healthcare apps, approximately half of the total consumers and approximately three-fourths of Smartphone users expressed a willingness to do so
-- While the market penetration for healthcare apps remains quite low, 62 percent of those who have used one ranked their experience as positive
-- Of those willing to use mobile devices to capture healthcare info, 67 percent agreed that having available info on a mobile device would be helpful or improve the information's value
-- The majority of consumers discover apps by either browsing an "app store" or from recommendations by friends or family
-- Consumers trust doctors most of all for recommendations on health and wellness apps, followed by friends and family; they trust social networks least of all these options
-- The future is optimistic for mobile health and wellness apps--44 percent of Smartphone users surveyed expect to use more mobile health and wellness apps in the future
Comment from Marian Salzman, president, Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, North America: As recently as last month, even Wired magazine declared "The Web is dead." We know consumers are moving away from previously established Internet habits and gravitating toward mobile apps and social tools to drive their online experiences. Therefore, it makes sense that this trend would also extend to the way they collect and utilize health information online. Euro RSCG intends to be at the forefront of this new phase of communication.
Comment from said Larry Mickelberg, chief digital officer, Euro RSCG Life Worldwide: At Euro RSCG Life 4D, we constantly measure the current cultural mindset in order to advance the state of the art in the digital space. Last year, we listened to what consumers had to say about digital and social media with regard to health, and we presented those results to the FDA at their Part 15 hearing in November. This year, we took a deeper look at these communication patterns and found that mobile has the potential to become the primarily digital channel through which health information and support flows.
About the survey: Euro RSCG Life 4D conducted the online survey with MicoDialogue, a digital and social media research firm. Results are reported in a report entitled "Bigger Than DTC? The Promise of Mobile Health." The first in a new series of POVs from the agency, called "4Thought," the paper is available now for download at . The survey, which builds upon previous research conducted in October 2009, examined usage and uptake of mobile applications (or "apps") among a sample of 502 online users.
Contact: http://www.eurorscglife.com
Contact: http://www.eurorscglife.com/sites/default/files/u12/4THOUGHT.pdf
The uptake in mobile communications is largely being driven by Smartphone usage. While only 27 percent of consumers polled have ever downloaded an app of any kind, this represented an 8 percent increase in usage from the previous year and the concentration of Smartphone users within this population was a full 67 percent. The overall number of consumers who stated they would be willing to use a mobile device to obtain health information also increased in the past year, from 37 to 48 percent.
Additional findings from this research include:
-- While only a small fraction of consumers have downloaded healthcare apps, approximately half of the total consumers and approximately three-fourths of Smartphone users expressed a willingness to do so
-- While the market penetration for healthcare apps remains quite low, 62 percent of those who have used one ranked their experience as positive
-- Of those willing to use mobile devices to capture healthcare info, 67 percent agreed that having available info on a mobile device would be helpful or improve the information's value
-- The majority of consumers discover apps by either browsing an "app store" or from recommendations by friends or family
-- Consumers trust doctors most of all for recommendations on health and wellness apps, followed by friends and family; they trust social networks least of all these options
-- The future is optimistic for mobile health and wellness apps--44 percent of Smartphone users surveyed expect to use more mobile health and wellness apps in the future
Comment from Marian Salzman, president, Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, North America: As recently as last month, even Wired magazine declared "The Web is dead." We know consumers are moving away from previously established Internet habits and gravitating toward mobile apps and social tools to drive their online experiences. Therefore, it makes sense that this trend would also extend to the way they collect and utilize health information online. Euro RSCG intends to be at the forefront of this new phase of communication.
Comment from said Larry Mickelberg, chief digital officer, Euro RSCG Life Worldwide: At Euro RSCG Life 4D, we constantly measure the current cultural mindset in order to advance the state of the art in the digital space. Last year, we listened to what consumers had to say about digital and social media with regard to health, and we presented those results to the FDA at their Part 15 hearing in November. This year, we took a deeper look at these communication patterns and found that mobile has the potential to become the primarily digital channel through which health information and support flows.
About the survey: Euro RSCG Life 4D conducted the online survey with MicoDialogue, a digital and social media research firm. Results are reported in a report entitled "Bigger Than DTC? The Promise of Mobile Health." The first in a new series of POVs from the agency, called "4Thought," the paper is available now for download at . The survey, which builds upon previous research conducted in October 2009, examined usage and uptake of mobile applications (or "apps") among a sample of 502 online users.
Contact: http://www.eurorscglife.com
Contact: http://www.eurorscglife.com/sites/default/files/u12/4THOUGHT.pdf
More Than Half Of U.S. Consumers Plan To Use Their Mobile Phone For Holiday Shopping
Fifty-nine percent of mobile consumers plan to use their mobile phone for holiday shopping and planning holiday celebrations, not including making phone calls, according to a survey. Nearly 25 percent of all mobile consumers said they were using their mobile phone more for holiday shopping and celebrating this holiday season, compared with the 2009 season.
The new survey identifies ways that brands and marketers should respond to trends among the 59 percent of mobile consumers intending to use their mobile phones for holiday shopping and celebration planning, aka "mobile holiday shoppers". This holiday season, for example, 64 percent of mobile holiday shoppers expect to use their mobile phone before going to a store, and 12 percent anticipate using their device to respond to a TV, billboard or newspaper ad.
The survey's other key findings include:
-- Asians, Hispanics and adults ages 25-34 are the demographic groups most likely to use their phone to a great extent for holiday shopping and celebration planning.
-- Thirteen percent of mobile holiday shoppers expect to use their phone to purchase or pay for gifts (13%).
-- Searching for locations where a gift is sold, and comparing prices, are the two most common holiday-related tasks that mobile holiday shoppers anticipate using their mobile phone for.
-- Movies, music, consumer electronics and books are the top gift types that mobile holiday shoppers thought would be helpful to shop for using a mobile phone.
-- Among mobile holiday shoppers, Hispanics and Asians were more likely to think that toys or games would be helpful to shop for with a mobile phone.
Comment from Peter A. Johnson, vice president of market intelligence, MMA: U.S. consumers increasingly view their mobile phone as their go-to device for shopping and managing their lives, and this survey shows how that trend will play out this holiday season. Marketers, brands and merchants that ignore or underestimate this trend risk missing out on a powerful new opportunity for reaching and serving virtually every demographic group. The good news is that the October 2010 U.S. Mobile Consumer Briefing provides a wealth of insights that they can apply when developing and executing their 2010 holiday strategies.
Comment from Jacqueline Rosales, EVP, Business Development & Client Service, Luth Research: Holiday shoppers are always in a time crunch, and in this economy, they're in a budget crunch, too. Both of these factors have them relying on their mobile phone more than ever as a tool for finding bargains, the right gift and the quickest way to get to a particular merchant. This dependence makes the mobile channel a highly effective way for brands, marketers and merchants to reach consumers this holiday shopping season, including by mobile-enabling campaigns that involve traditional media.
About the survey: The Mobile Marketing Association and its research partner, Luth Research conducted the October 2010 U.S. Mobile Consumer Briefing, a monthly survey of U.S. adult mobile phone users (mobile consumers) about their mobile marketing behaviors and opinions. Based on Luth Research's online panel, SurveySavvy, each MMA U.S. Mobile Consumer Briefing collects answers from a demographically representative sample of more than 1,000 U.S. adult consumers. Conducted October 15-21, the survey asked mobile phone users the following questions about their usage of their mobile phone regarding their upcoming holiday shopping and planning of holiday celebrations.
Contact: http://www.mmaglobal.com
The new survey identifies ways that brands and marketers should respond to trends among the 59 percent of mobile consumers intending to use their mobile phones for holiday shopping and celebration planning, aka "mobile holiday shoppers". This holiday season, for example, 64 percent of mobile holiday shoppers expect to use their mobile phone before going to a store, and 12 percent anticipate using their device to respond to a TV, billboard or newspaper ad.
The survey's other key findings include:
-- Asians, Hispanics and adults ages 25-34 are the demographic groups most likely to use their phone to a great extent for holiday shopping and celebration planning.
-- Thirteen percent of mobile holiday shoppers expect to use their phone to purchase or pay for gifts (13%).
-- Searching for locations where a gift is sold, and comparing prices, are the two most common holiday-related tasks that mobile holiday shoppers anticipate using their mobile phone for.
-- Movies, music, consumer electronics and books are the top gift types that mobile holiday shoppers thought would be helpful to shop for using a mobile phone.
-- Among mobile holiday shoppers, Hispanics and Asians were more likely to think that toys or games would be helpful to shop for with a mobile phone.
Comment from Peter A. Johnson, vice president of market intelligence, MMA: U.S. consumers increasingly view their mobile phone as their go-to device for shopping and managing their lives, and this survey shows how that trend will play out this holiday season. Marketers, brands and merchants that ignore or underestimate this trend risk missing out on a powerful new opportunity for reaching and serving virtually every demographic group. The good news is that the October 2010 U.S. Mobile Consumer Briefing provides a wealth of insights that they can apply when developing and executing their 2010 holiday strategies.
Comment from Jacqueline Rosales, EVP, Business Development & Client Service, Luth Research: Holiday shoppers are always in a time crunch, and in this economy, they're in a budget crunch, too. Both of these factors have them relying on their mobile phone more than ever as a tool for finding bargains, the right gift and the quickest way to get to a particular merchant. This dependence makes the mobile channel a highly effective way for brands, marketers and merchants to reach consumers this holiday shopping season, including by mobile-enabling campaigns that involve traditional media.
About the survey: The Mobile Marketing Association and its research partner, Luth Research conducted the October 2010 U.S. Mobile Consumer Briefing, a monthly survey of U.S. adult mobile phone users (mobile consumers) about their mobile marketing behaviors and opinions. Based on Luth Research's online panel, SurveySavvy, each MMA U.S. Mobile Consumer Briefing collects answers from a demographically representative sample of more than 1,000 U.S. adult consumers. Conducted October 15-21, the survey asked mobile phone users the following questions about their usage of their mobile phone regarding their upcoming holiday shopping and planning of holiday celebrations.
Contact: http://www.mmaglobal.com
Messaging To Play A Dominant Role In The Future Of Mobile Marketing
Sixty-one percent of mobile operators believe that coupons or vouchers will become the dominant form of mobile marketing by 2015, according to a survey.
Furthermore, 58 percent of those surveyed predicted that SMS- and MMS-based messaging would be the second most widely accepted form of mobile advertising in the next five years, followed by search with 45 percent. Owing to the close link between coupons and vouchers and messaging, with messaging acting as a core distribution channel in the majority of cases, it is understandable why both categories attracted a similarly high response from the operators surveyed.
Users in 2015 are thought to be more likely to utilize mobile marketing or advertising promotions that are sent to them via their mobile phones than those generated through search, display or navigation.
Currently, UK mobile subscribers send more than 11 million SMS messages per hour, totalling an approximate 7.7 billion per month. This shows clear potential for mobile operators to capitalize upon the 15.4 billion engagements between consumers and the SMS medium that are generated each month.
Should subscribers opt in or opt out in the future? Currently, subscribers have to opt in to mobile advertising. However, as significant mobile marketing and advertising activity is expected in the future, the opt-out option will also become an important component in the 2015 mobile user's experience. According to the survey, 54 percent of operators thought that an opt-out service would be more important to them than opt-in in 2015, compared to 39 percent in 2010.
The majority of operators (53 percent) also believe that the customer should control and update their user profile in 2015, rather than the operator (7 percent) or a combination of the operator and user (40 percent).
Comment from Airwide Solutions Chief Marketing Officer Jay Seaton: Messaging is the ideal platform to unlock the potential of mobile advertising and marketing. The widespread use of mobile messaging creates a far-reaching and significant marketing opportunity for brands which in turn, creates a significant revenue opportunity for mobile operators. By putting a reliable infrastructure in place, and a means of controlling and measuring campaigns, mobile operators can deliver some of the most highly effective mobile marketing initiatives through mobile messaging. Best practice guidelines need to be implemented around the subscriber opt in/out process. For mobile marketing and advertising to be truly effective, operators need to have customer information that enables targeted and relevant communications. Giving subscribers the choice to opt in or out of campaigns enables them to be user specific and ultimately provide more value.
About the survey: The study was conducted by analyst house mobileSQUARED on behalf of Airwide Solutions, the leading provider of next-generation mobile messaging infrastructure, applications and solutions.
Contact: http://www.airwidesolutions.com/resources.html
Furthermore, 58 percent of those surveyed predicted that SMS- and MMS-based messaging would be the second most widely accepted form of mobile advertising in the next five years, followed by search with 45 percent. Owing to the close link between coupons and vouchers and messaging, with messaging acting as a core distribution channel in the majority of cases, it is understandable why both categories attracted a similarly high response from the operators surveyed.
Users in 2015 are thought to be more likely to utilize mobile marketing or advertising promotions that are sent to them via their mobile phones than those generated through search, display or navigation.
Currently, UK mobile subscribers send more than 11 million SMS messages per hour, totalling an approximate 7.7 billion per month. This shows clear potential for mobile operators to capitalize upon the 15.4 billion engagements between consumers and the SMS medium that are generated each month.
Should subscribers opt in or opt out in the future? Currently, subscribers have to opt in to mobile advertising. However, as significant mobile marketing and advertising activity is expected in the future, the opt-out option will also become an important component in the 2015 mobile user's experience. According to the survey, 54 percent of operators thought that an opt-out service would be more important to them than opt-in in 2015, compared to 39 percent in 2010.
The majority of operators (53 percent) also believe that the customer should control and update their user profile in 2015, rather than the operator (7 percent) or a combination of the operator and user (40 percent).
Comment from Airwide Solutions Chief Marketing Officer Jay Seaton: Messaging is the ideal platform to unlock the potential of mobile advertising and marketing. The widespread use of mobile messaging creates a far-reaching and significant marketing opportunity for brands which in turn, creates a significant revenue opportunity for mobile operators. By putting a reliable infrastructure in place, and a means of controlling and measuring campaigns, mobile operators can deliver some of the most highly effective mobile marketing initiatives through mobile messaging. Best practice guidelines need to be implemented around the subscriber opt in/out process. For mobile marketing and advertising to be truly effective, operators need to have customer information that enables targeted and relevant communications. Giving subscribers the choice to opt in or out of campaigns enables them to be user specific and ultimately provide more value.
About the survey: The study was conducted by analyst house mobileSQUARED on behalf of Airwide Solutions, the leading provider of next-generation mobile messaging infrastructure, applications and solutions.
Contact: http://www.airwidesolutions.com/resources.html
Mobile Application Users Prefer Usability And Good User Experience Over Brand Names Alone
The majority of mobile phone users who download and use applications choose to download those apps based on recommendations and good user experience (UX), rather than the brand name company or organization that released it, according to a survey.
The survey of 781 online adults who download and use mobile apps found that many organizations and companies are failing their users as well as their own brand.
Mobile appears to be identified as a critical part of an overall brand experience, and the survey results revealed that 76 percent of mobile application users agree that all brand name companies and organizations should have mobile apps to make shopping or interacting with them easier. However, 38 percent of mobile application users agree that they are not satisfied with most of the apps currently available from their favorite brand name companies/organizations, and 69 percent agree that if a brand name mobile app is not useful, helpful or easy to use it results in a negative perception about the brand.
Key figures include:
-- 32 percent have told others about a bad experience with a mobile app
-- 13 percent have avoided downloading applications from a brand name company or organization due to a previous bad experience with another app offered by that brand
Usability and User Experience More Important Than Brand Name Alone
Users have high expectations for organizations' and brands' mobile apps. In fact, 73 percent of mobile app users agree that they expect a company's mobile app to be easier to use than its website.
According to online adults who download and use mobile apps, usability and user experience are more important than brand name alone. Only 18 percent of mobile app users consider whether the application is from a brand name company or organization when deciding whether to download an app.
The survey discovered that users download apps based on the following UX considerations:
-- 74 percent think it should be easy to use
-- 75 percent think it should do exactly what they want or need it to do
-- 57 percent think it should be well designed
Of those who say they have downloaded apps because of recommendations from others, on average they report that 29 percent of their downloaded apps were downloaded as a result of a recommendation from someone they know that had a good experience.
Other key figures include:
-- 66 percent have downloaded an app based on a review or recommendation
-- 57 percent have recommended an app because of a positive experience
Every company, large and small, thinking about creating a mobile application should take into consideration the fact that mobile is an important piece of the overall customer experience.
Comment from Rebecca Flavin, CEO of EffectiveUI: The results of our survey are quite telling, and further proof that organizations must invest more in the user experience of their mobile apps, rather than rely solely on the brand. Mobile applications are the sure fire way to extend a brand. It's time for organizations to understand how to fully leverage the mobile channel and optimize a user-centered approach to drive adoption, as well as reinforce and drive brand loyalty.
Companies can ensure mobile success by focusing on the overall UX when creating a mobile application, which includes some of the following steps:
-- Focus on the customer need, as well as the business need: Conduct research to find out whether your customers want to engage with your company via a mobile device and how they're using the mobile channel to accomplish their goals; avoid creating an app for the sake of creating an app.
-- Design for the right device: Again, research will help you uncover which devices your customers use most.
-- Make sure your feature set fits the mobile experience: Too often, companies try to put the same features in their mobile device as their website. While drilling down is fine on the Web, mobile users tend to act more linearly with a mobile application.
About the survey: The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of EffectiveUI from September 30 - October 4, 2010, among 2,250 adults ages 18 and older and October 5-7, 2010, among 2,098 adults ages 18 and older, for a combined total of 4,348 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Aaron Wessels at 415-378-8090.
Contact: http://www.harrisinteractive.com
The survey of 781 online adults who download and use mobile apps found that many organizations and companies are failing their users as well as their own brand.
Mobile appears to be identified as a critical part of an overall brand experience, and the survey results revealed that 76 percent of mobile application users agree that all brand name companies and organizations should have mobile apps to make shopping or interacting with them easier. However, 38 percent of mobile application users agree that they are not satisfied with most of the apps currently available from their favorite brand name companies/organizations, and 69 percent agree that if a brand name mobile app is not useful, helpful or easy to use it results in a negative perception about the brand.
Key figures include:
-- 32 percent have told others about a bad experience with a mobile app
-- 13 percent have avoided downloading applications from a brand name company or organization due to a previous bad experience with another app offered by that brand
Usability and User Experience More Important Than Brand Name Alone
Users have high expectations for organizations' and brands' mobile apps. In fact, 73 percent of mobile app users agree that they expect a company's mobile app to be easier to use than its website.
According to online adults who download and use mobile apps, usability and user experience are more important than brand name alone. Only 18 percent of mobile app users consider whether the application is from a brand name company or organization when deciding whether to download an app.
The survey discovered that users download apps based on the following UX considerations:
-- 74 percent think it should be easy to use
-- 75 percent think it should do exactly what they want or need it to do
-- 57 percent think it should be well designed
Of those who say they have downloaded apps because of recommendations from others, on average they report that 29 percent of their downloaded apps were downloaded as a result of a recommendation from someone they know that had a good experience.
Other key figures include:
-- 66 percent have downloaded an app based on a review or recommendation
-- 57 percent have recommended an app because of a positive experience
Every company, large and small, thinking about creating a mobile application should take into consideration the fact that mobile is an important piece of the overall customer experience.
Comment from Rebecca Flavin, CEO of EffectiveUI: The results of our survey are quite telling, and further proof that organizations must invest more in the user experience of their mobile apps, rather than rely solely on the brand. Mobile applications are the sure fire way to extend a brand. It's time for organizations to understand how to fully leverage the mobile channel and optimize a user-centered approach to drive adoption, as well as reinforce and drive brand loyalty.
Companies can ensure mobile success by focusing on the overall UX when creating a mobile application, which includes some of the following steps:
-- Focus on the customer need, as well as the business need: Conduct research to find out whether your customers want to engage with your company via a mobile device and how they're using the mobile channel to accomplish their goals; avoid creating an app for the sake of creating an app.
-- Design for the right device: Again, research will help you uncover which devices your customers use most.
-- Make sure your feature set fits the mobile experience: Too often, companies try to put the same features in their mobile device as their website. While drilling down is fine on the Web, mobile users tend to act more linearly with a mobile application.
About the survey: The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of EffectiveUI from September 30 - October 4, 2010, among 2,250 adults ages 18 and older and October 5-7, 2010, among 2,098 adults ages 18 and older, for a combined total of 4,348 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Aaron Wessels at 415-378-8090.
Contact: http://www.harrisinteractive.com
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