Nation of networkers,
phone study finds

New research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reveals almost half of Australia’s adult population now own a smartphone.
   The ACMA report, Smartphones and tablets - Take-up and use in Australia found smartphone adoption rose by 104 per cent to 8.67 million units over the 12 months to May 2012.
   It also found 9.2 million Australians went online via their mobile phone and 4.4 million accessed the internet using a tablet in the six months to May 2012 while the number of mobile internet subscribers increased by 22 per cent to 22.1 million subscribers at June 2012.
Mobile net subscribers up 22%
   Chairman of the ACMA, Chris Chapman said the adoption and use of smartphones underlined the critical and increasing importance of mobile and 4G services.
   “To support these wireless services, high speed mobile broadband, ‘fit for purpose’ spectrum frameworks and availability, and efficient infrastructure are the new essentials,” Mr Chapman said.
   The report also found when compared to other mobile phone users, smartphone users were nine times more likely to go online via their handsets; four times more likely to purchase goods online; three times more likely to stream or download audio or video content; three times more likely to pay bills online; and twice as likely to access social networking sites.
   It noted that continued rollout of mobile network upgrades, growth in 4G coverage and the increased use of wi-fi hotspots were key drivers for the increase in smartphone ownership, with more than two million Australians using a wi-fi hotspot in the June 2012 quarter, 32 per cent up on the previous year.
Edition 347, 5 February 2013
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