3 April 2008
US iPhone owners are spending their time enjoying all its capabilities – voice, data communications and multimedia entertainment – rather than exclusively using it for traditional voice calls, according to a latest consumer survey by research firm iSuppli.
Owners of all types of mobile handsets use their phones for voice communications 71.7% of the time, according to research from iSuppli's ConsumerTrak survey of US residents. In contrast, iPhone owners spend just 46.5% of their time with the product engaged in voice calls.
US consumers said they spent 12.1% of their iPhone usage time accessing the Internet, a stark contrast with 2.4% for all mobile phones on average. Furthermore, iPhone owners spent 11.9% of their usage time listening to music or other audio, compared to just 2.5% for all mobile handset users.
"This usage pattern shows Apple has succeeded in producing a true convergence product that consumers like to use for multiple purposes," said Greg Sheppard, chief development officer for iSuppli. "Apple has come as close as anyone to achieving a balanced convergence in mobile-handset features and usage."
It's a phone, too
Even before Apple released the iPhone, everyone anticipated it would integrate the mobile phone's voice communications capability with the iPod's audio and video playback functionality. However, Apple has also worked to tailor and promote the iPhone as a device that makes Internet access pleasant and productive, and more like using a computer, according to iSuppli. The large multi-touch screen, ergonomic user interface and Wi-Fi connection, make accessing the Internet something people want to do more with a device like the iPhone, the research firm claimed.
Although iSuppli's research indicates smartphones from HTC are used more than the iPhone on a percentage basis for surfing the Web, the iPhone has the most volume and market impact. Google and Bank of America recently commented on how the rapid rise of traffic from iPhone owners is forcing them to modify their support of mobile Internet activities.
Feeling used
iSuppli's ConsumerTrak survey revealed iPhone users also spent more time emailing than all users on average, with owners spending 10.4% of their time on this task, as opposed to 2.8% for all mobile-phone subscribers. In spite of having only limited corporate IT support so far, the speed (via Wi-Fi) and ergonomics of the iPhone arecompelling users to access their personal email more frequently.
iPhone users are no different from anyone else when it comes to text messaging, as 15% of their time is spent on this activity, according to iSuppli.
