There are a number of companies that provide strong Internet service for those who can afford it. However, a new survey indicates that a good deal of the American audience prefer to use their smartphone when it comes to accessing sites and social networks.
A report from Re/Code states that nearly one in five Americans depend solely on their cellphone for Internet access, and it’s a number that’s showing eventual growth.
This is mainly an audience consisting of younger users, or those without a feasible budget for a high-speed alternative. In addition, those with lower education are coupled into this audience, according to numbers compiled by the Pew Research Center.
“The traditional notion of ‘going online’ often evokes images of a desktop or laptop computer with a full complement of features, such as a large screen, mouse, keyboard, wires and a dedicated high-speed connection,” says the report. “But for many Americans, the reality of the online experience is substantially different.”
Smartphone penetration is showing a higher rate, with nearly two-thirds of Americans possessing some form of the technology.
While the limited site screen makes it difficult to navigate certain sites, the ease of use with smartphone-based Internet allows users to easily check certain information, like updates on social media sites and private information, such as a bank balance.
High cost may be the biggest factor when it comes to Internet service – and even smartphone users have seen some form of effect from that. Pew’s report indicates that 23 percent of smartphone owners have had to cancel or suspend their service at one point, mainly due to the lack of funds. 15 percent, meanwhile, had to hold back, but for a different reason – reaching a maximum data limit on their plan.
“The connections to online resources that smartphones facilitate are often most tenuous for those users who rely on those connections the most,” said Pew senior researcher Aaron Smith.
While this isn’t quite alarming news to broadband and strong Internet providers just yet, the growing audience of smartphone users could be of slight concern over the next few years – especially with more affordable data plans that are likely to be introduced as a competitive move.
