The digital age is entering the "post-PC world," according to new research.
PCs and laptops are being replaced by mobile handsets and tablets as the favourite devices used to access the Internet.
The next 12 months will see a transformation in the way users connect to the Web, according to the research, with tablets leading the charge. Currently, 79% said their personal PC or laptop was their favourite device for accessing the Net. But a year from now, that figure will plummet to 42%, while 40% said a tablet, mobile phone or e-reader would be their top choice for going online. Another 7% will use an Internet-ready TV, while just 11% will continue to use their work PC or laptop.
And apps are part of the game-changing mix as well, GWI reported. App use is growing by double-digit percentages this year. Between February and June, the use of gaming apps worldwide was up 19%. In North America during the same period, the number of smartphone-using consumers who downloaded an app within the past 30 days was up 14%. "Apps and device-specific platforms help create a diverse and disconnected Web," the report concludes.
What does this mean for your business? You need to make sure, as a minimum, that your website functions correctly when accessed via a smartphone or tablet computer. There is plenty of evidence that those companies that have already 'gone mobile' are seeing significant return on investment - Hilton Hotels being a great example.
GWI interviewed close to 100,000 individuals in 27 different markets in June and July.
GWI interviewed close to 100,000 individuals in 27 different markets in June and July.
Article Source: MediaPost
