If you think about it, most people you know have access to the Internet, and surely all of them own a mobile device. Mobile devices have fastly and steadily grown to become the preferred tool to browse the net, even over PCs, making them win the race of internet traffic.
From their beginnings as bulky car phones in the 1980s, mobile phones went on to become multimedia communication devices with a level of computing power seen in desktops only a short number of years before.
The mobile industry has become almost impossible for business owners to overlook. This follows, given the amount of time customers spend scrolling through the screen of their mobile devices these days.
People spend a considerable amount of time on their mobile devices, either communicating with friends and loved ones or executing online transactions. According to Exploding Topics, the average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes daily on their phone. And 1 in 5 smartphone users spends upwards of 4.5 hours on average on their phones every day, and it’s surely something that will continue to increase.
Mobile vs Desktop Internet Usage
Some years ago, computers were our favorite tool to browse the net, but things have changed since then.
Oberlo mentions that in 2012, nearly all web traffic came through desktops (89.12 %). The very first time the percentage of web traffic on mobile exceeded that of desktop came in November 2016, when 50.7% of overall internet traffic came from mobile phones, just a little more than desktop at 49.3 %. As of November 2022, 60.28 %of all web traffic came through mobile phones, but why does it happen? Here are some reasons according to KalamTime:
1. You have instant access everywhere
If you are tired of trying to find free Wi-Fi access points, buying a 3G or 4G data plan is probably worth the money. With a data plan, you can use cellular signals to access the Internet, giving you virtually access anywhere: in cars, restaurants, airports, and coffee shops.
2. Portable
If the idea of lugging a heavy laptop around is enough to make your shoulders and back ache, you will appreciate spending a little extra cash each month to access the Internet through your smartphone. When you are out of the house or your place of business, read and reply to email, complete any research, get directions, or visit your favorite social networking sites all from your cell phone.
3. Entertainment Source
You can never get bored if you own a mobile phone. Entertainment sources have widened because of mobile phones. There are a multitude of games to download and play. Also, you can read an online article or get involved with social media to pass the time. Smartphones allow video watching, as well as listening to radio, podcasts, or music.
4. Remote Working Tool
Remote working is not a problem now. You can work from home on smartphones. Their additional storage helps you save all important files. Moreover, you can download business applications on your phone. Mobile phones enable work on the move in almost any location. This allows workers and managers to remain in contact with their base while out of office. And also while traveling between locations, allowing them to communicate with colleagues and clients when working from anywhere.
5. Emergency Helper
God forbid if you are ever alone and involved in an accident. The first thing you would want to do is call someone for help. How are you going to do this? THROUGH YOUR MOBILE PHONE. Mobile phones ensure that emergency services, as well as family and friends, can be contacted immediately. Phones for children reassure parents and enable them to know where their children are at all times.
6. A monster that continues growing
The World Advertising Research Center (WARC) released in 2019 a report stating that almost three quarters (72.6 %) of internet users will access the web solely via their smartphones by 2025, equivalent to nearly 3.7 billion people. Most of the growth in smartphone use will come from China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan, but there will still be 2.4 billion people who do not own a mobile phone by 2025.
To conclude
As you can see, it’s safe to say that mobile already has the upper hand when it comes to the way we consume data. As of now, these mobile internet traffic statistics show that watching videos, using messaging apps, and visiting social media networks are the most preferred online activities on smartphones.
Of course, Desktop internet usage still has its place. It still offers a higher conversion rate and is crucial for business success, but when we have all the information we could possibly need at the tip of our fingertips, there are no more limits.
Our online future is surely mobile.
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