Despite the rise of mobile applications, device hardware and cell coverage remain the key factors in US consumer’s purchasing decisions, research by Deloitte shows.
Just under 60% of consumers surveyed rated the price and functionality of smartphones as the most important factor influencing their purchasing decision, compared to 18% who cited downloadable apps and other additional features as the key influence.
That places applications fourth in the list of factors behind cell coverage (49%), and form factor (34%).
However, the additional features provided by mobile apps has seen 42% of consumers ditch their portable MP3 players and cut the amount of music they listen to via traditional AM/FM radios.
In a warning to games console manufacturers, 30% of respondents said they had stopped using portable gaming devices in favor of mobile games. Stand alone GPS devices have also suffered, with 24% saying they have reduced their use of the units.
The research also flagged a crossover between online newspapers and their print counterparts, with 18% of consumers admitting they would subscribe to print newspapers as a result of using online versions.