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Apps eating into usage of MP3 players, handheld games and GPS

Stuart Dredge
Apps eating into usage of MP3 players, handheld games and GPS

But Deloitte survey finds that apps aren't a big factor in handset buying decisions.

42% of mobile app users have reduced or completely eliminated their use of MP3 players, according to a new survey conducted by Deloitte.

It also found that 30% of app users have done the same to their use of handheld games devices, while 28% are 'shunning' their standalone GPS satnav devices.

41% of app users say they use their smartphone as a replacement for their laptop when away from home, and 15% say they do so in the home.

"What we are seeing is a significant shift in how consumers access media, entertainment and information," says Deloitte's Phil Asmundson.

"The growing demand for smartphones, led by Millennials and Xers, will increasingly threaten to cannibalise many consumer electronics."

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Interestingly, though, it seems apps still aren't a huge driver of smartphone purchases.

Deloitte's survey found that 58% of consumers who own or plan to buy a smartphone say features like size, quality, camera and keyboard style have the most influence on their purchasing decision.

Only 18% of them said that apps were an influence on their decision to buy a particular smartphone.

"Apps are not currently the main driver of smartphone sales; rather it's the features and functionality," says Deloitte's Craig Wigginton.

"But, as devices continue to add functionality, coupled with consumers increasingly learning about valuable apps, this can save them from carrying multiple devices and grant them better access to an array of media, entertainment and information."

Tags: deloitte