Smartphone users prefer Wi-Fi
Shipments of Wi-Fi-enabled cellular handsets will double in volume by the end of 2010, compared to January 2008, and that growth curve is expected to continue through 2013, according to a report by ABI Research market tracking agency. But there are obstacles for local wireless network technology too.
This data, contained in a new ABI Research study, shows how driven by increasing consumer awareness and demand, new operator business models, and increased value for handset manufacturers, Wi-Fi technology will continue to penetrate deeper into mobile handsets over the next five years.
The user’s experience appears to be critical in handset Wi-Fi adoption. While Nokia leads the market in Wi-Fi-enabled handsets due to the sheer volume of its portfolio, Wi-Fi models only represent a small fraction of the range. In contrast, every Apple iPhone has Wi-Fi, and due to its ease of use and the seamless iTunes experience, more iPhone users – as many as 75% – are using their Wi-Fi regularly. Contrasting again, HTC’s handset lineup is 80% Wi-Fi-equipped, but only 10% of its users are employing the Wi-Fi capability.
In Wi-Fi’s favor: as flat rate data plans increase, wireless operators can leverage Wi-Fi capable handsets to offload data intensive applications, improve in-building coverage, and offer new services to new markets.
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