Brits Shun Mobile Internet, Survey Finds

Despite the recent launches of Apples iPhone, Googles G1 and the growth of 3G, mobile users are yet to fully embrace the Internet on their mobile handsets, according to a report by price comparison website, moneysupermarket.com.
The company carried out an online poll of 2,179 British adults between 17 and 21 October. The survey revealed that while 87% of the population now have access to 3G networks (according to the 2008 Ofcom International Communications Market Report), and 72% of mobile users have Internet capabilities on their mobile, yet less than a quarter (24%) of those actually use it.
Costs and functionality are the main obstacles for users. Seven in 10 people have no idea how much they would be charged to use the Internet on their mobile and one in four say the service is too slow to use. One in eight of those with Internet capability on their phone say the service is pointless.
Mobile technology has come a long way in the past few years – with the advent of 3G networks the mobile is no longer just for making calls. However, it seems people are either unsure on costs or are put off by the speed of it. Its a shame, because with the right package and handset people can really take advantage of this great offering, says James Parker, Manager of Mobiles and Broadband at moneysupermarket.com.
Although the study highlights some apprehension towards mobile Internet, there are over 11 million adults who have embraced it. The survey shows that, on average, men spend 16 minutes a week surfing the web on their phone, compared to 11 minutes for women. The average for all adults is 13.7 minutes.
Email (35%) and news (28%) are the most common things looked up on mobile handsets, with sport (24%) being third most popular. However, people are starting to branch out, with one in five looking for maps, one in six accessing social network sites and one in 30 surfing for adult content.
The range of information, websites and services offered on the internet through your mobile is incredible, says Parker. Were starting to see more and more providers offer special access to social network sites, and Id expect technology to evolve until mobiles offer the same web capabilities as a home computer. The handsets are out there, people just need to be made aware its not as expensive as they might think. All the major networks offer Internet packages giving customers the chance to save money and access the net. O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone all offer unlimited Internet access for a flat monthly fee from 5 per month. Instead of paying each time they access the internet, users can go online without restrictions, for people who want internet on the go these add-ons can be great value.”