Flat-rate data packages are paramount to driving increased mobile internet adoption reveals Mobile Internet Attitudes Report 201

 Volantis releases research into consumer mobile internet demands in US & UK

February 11, 2010, Guildford, U.K. & Seattle, WA, U.S.A.  - Mobile internet users across the UK and USA want flat-rate data packages to be more readily available, and cite that as the one factor most likely to increase the time they spend on the mobile web. The findings of the Mobile Internet Attitudes Report 2010 reveal the growing appetite for flat-rate data, with just under half (49%) of mobile users across both regions saying they would be more likely to sign-up to such packages if operators did more to make them easier to sign up to. Mobile internet specialist Volantis commissioned YouGov to conduct the poll which questioned 4,324 consumers online, aged 18+, in the UK and USA.

Despite the fact that operators offer an increasing array of services and applications for the mobile internet, the Mobile Internet Attitudes Report revealed that there are still a high number of mobile users with internet-ready phones who are not motivated to go online via their handset. In the UK, one-third of respondents (33%) reported that they don't use the internet despite having access on their phone, while one American in four (25%) with an internet-ready phone is still not logging on. Although concerted efforts by operators to push high-end smartphones to their subscribers have been successful in increasing the take-up of these feature-rich phones, more needs to be done to encourage and educate consumers to use their mobiles to their full capability.

The Mobile Internet Attitudes Report also revealed that mobile phone users across the UK and US would be keen to have websites and services optimized for their specific mobile device, if it means that they could more quickly access the services they want; 32 per cent of those asked in both regions said it would get them using the mobile internet more often. In turn, 51 per cent of all respondents said they were only prepared to spend up to three minutes surfing for a specific piece of content on their phones, suggesting that if websites and content were better optimized and easier to locate across a wider range of handsets, they would be more likely to have a positive mobile internet experience.

Networks under pressure

Results from the Mobile Internet Attitudes Report also highlighted one of the major issues currently facing operators as more subscribers access the mobile web on a regular basis, how to balance the roll-out of new services across their networks to remain competitive. Of those asked, more than one in ten UK mobile internet users (13%) and almost a fifth of US users (17%) are now accessing the mobile internet more than once a day from their phones. In total, an impressive 27 per cent of UK consumers and 28 per cent of Americans surveyed said they now use the mobile internet at least once a week, if not more. These results suggest that mass mobile internet adoption is now approaching a tipping point. As usage continues to grow in 2010, operators will need to effectively manage the strain on their networks from a combination of an increase in users and a greater adoption of high-bandwidth services such as video and audio streaming.

When asked what they found to be the most frustrating part of their mobile internet experience, the Volantis-commissioned research found that only one in 20 (5%) are completely satisfied with their current mobile internet service. A further 32 per cent of UK users and 23 per cent of Americans said that network speed remains the biggest barrier to them using the mobile web on a more regular basis.

"Operators must do more to open up compelling application and mobile internet services to subscribers of all mobile devices, and make flat-rate data packages far more easily available." said Mark Watson, CEO of Volantis. "By opening up mobile data services and optimizing the end-user experience, operators can create a new body of mobile internet consumers, and proactively increase the data revenues required to support the required network and development effort. Many of the less-advanced devices will also prove less of a strain on networks compared to the smartphone devices, so that - on mid-tier handsets especially - operators will see a higher average profit margin per user, and a greater individual contribution to data revenues."

Research Methodology

The Mobile Internet Attitudes Report 2010 was commissioned by Volantis Systems and conducted by YouGov, polling a nationally representative sample of 2,185 UK and 2,139 US adults aged 18+ in February 2010.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2185 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th January - 1st February 2010.The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

US Study: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2139 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st - 4th February 2010.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

About Volantis

Volantis is the mobile internet specialist that makes the internet work on all mobile phones, enabling anyone with a mobile to access the internet on the go. Its platforms help solve the complexity of selling and delivering content to thousands of unique devices without compromise, ensuring the highest quality user experience.

Founded in 2000, Volantis has a decade's experience in delivering mobile internet and content services to mobile subscribers, with over 120 employees in five regions across the globe including: UK, Poland, USA, Hong Kong and India. Volantis' customers include AT&T, Telefonica, Orange, Oracle and IBM.

Additional information is available at www.volantis.com.

Volantis software is protected by the following granted and pending patent applications: United Kingdom: 2371896, European Patent EP 1320972 (Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland), pending European Patent Application EP 1641211 (designating Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom), Hong Kong: HK1049046, Japan: 2002-531257, Singapore: 95431, 200301776-9, India: 325/DEL/03, South Korea: 7004318/03, People's Republic of China: ZL01819526, US: 10/381802.

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