Antenna Software announced that it has published the findings of its second annual mobile Internet survey that measured the attitudes, preferences and behaviors of adult consumers in the U.S. and U.K.
For more information visit: www.antennasoftware.com
Unedited press release follows:
New Research Shows Mobile Internet Usage a Daily Habit
2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report from Antenna Shows Mobile Internet Adoption on the Rise but Poor User Experience a Deterrent
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Feb. 22, 2011– One in five Americans use the mobile Internet every day, according to the 2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report from Antenna Software. The second annual survey conducted by YouGov measured the attitudes, preferences and behaviors of adult consumers in the United States and United Kingdom, finding U.S. mobile Internet usage up 17 percent from the 2010 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report. Nearly half of respondents said they would use the mobile Internet each day to stay in touch with friends through instant messaging (21 percent in the UK and 22 percent in the US) and social networking (27 percent in both countries).
While mobile Internet usage is steadily on the rise, driven by the demand and popularity of social media and networking tools, many feature-phone users cite poor user experience as a barrier to further adoption. Of the representative sample of 4,375 consumers polled, almost half of Americans (44 percent) failed to use the mobile Internet, despite having access to it on their mobile phone.
Antenna, which acquired Volantis, a mobile internet specialist, in February 2011 commissioned YouGov to poll the views of a representative sample of 2,296 consumers, aged 18+ in the UK and 2,079 in the US.
British Mobile Internet Users Overtake US Trailblazers
The 2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report found British consumers are more active on the mobile Internet than their transatlantic counterparts. One in three British (34 percent) and American (33 percent) consumers are now accessing the Internet using their mobile phone at least once a week, up from 27 and 28 percent respectively in 2010.
“The mobile Internet has become an important part of daily life for consumers on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Jim Hemmer, President and CEO of Antenna Software. “The desire for convenience and advancements in technology mean more people than ever before can enjoy good mobile Internet experiences regardless of their handset. However, as results of the 2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report indicate, there’s still much improvement to be made by operators and enterprises.”
Consumers Demand Better Mobile Internet Experience
Nearly half of U.S. consumers (44 percent) with mobile Internet access are more likely to use it if the experience offered was similar to using the Internet on their personal computer. With comparable speed, functionality and appearance of websites, the 2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report concludes that there is significant opportunity for operators and enterprises to improve the mobile experience on the wide range of handset models used by the public.
According to the 2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report, 27 percent of American and 27 percent of British consumers are discouraged from using the mobile Internet by websites that don’t display properly on their mobile screens. A further 28 percent of U.S. and 32 percent of British consumers cite difficulty in navigating websites on a mobile device as a reason for not accessing the mobile Internet.
“Operators and enterprises must do more to ensure a compelling and rewarding Internet and application experience is had by consumers on all mobile devices – not just smartphones,” adds Hemmer. “Today’s consumer expects a rich, high-quality Internet experience whether surfing on their PC or on their mobile device. Operators and enterprises must ensure their mobile Internet websites and applications can be rendered optimally across the broadest range of handsets – or risk lost revenue opportunities and impaired customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.”
Despite the promotion of flat-rate data packages, cost also remains a barrier to greater mobile Internet usage. The Mobile Internet Attitudes Report found 33 percent of American and 39 percent of British consumers still believe that using their mobile phone to access the Internet is too expensive.
“While operators have made great strides to promote flat-rate data, there is a lingering perception in both markets that accessing the Internet through a mobile phone is expensive,” adds Hemmer. “In many cases, unlimited mobile data packages can be substantially cheaper than monthly fixed line broadband costs demonstrating we still have a way to go in educating consumers.”
Research methodology
The Mobile Internet Attitudes Report 2011 was commissioned by Antenna and conducted by YouGov, polling a nationally representative sample of 2,296 UK and 2,079 US adults aged 18+ in January 2011. All figures unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
About Antenna
Antenna Software provides a complete solution for mobile web, apps and content that addresses the needs of all users, across all Internet-connected devices, from anywhere in the world. Only Antenna’s mobile solutions enable business transformation by delivering a consistent and compelling experience for everyone – from employees in the mobile workforce to millions of consumers on myriad devices. Antenna’s advanced mobile technology makes all the hard stuff like security, integration, performance, scalability and management look easy (even though it’s not). That’s why leading Global 1000 companies rely on Antenna to be their trusted mobility partner. Founded in 1998, Antenna is headquartered in Jersey City, N.J., with offices around the world.