Survey says perceived gap between PC and mobile user experience is a barrier to downloads.
VoIP giant Skype has published data from a Zogby survey showing that people still perceive a wide gap between their PC and mobileSpecifically, the survey maintains that most mobile users aren't downloading applications because of a user experience barrier.
As such, Skype is calling for greater collaboration between mobile operators, software providers and device makers to assist consumers in "embracing next generation of mobile experience".
Key findings from the survey, which encompassed 3,000 mobile users in the US, UK, Japan and Spain between December 2008 and February 2009, include:
- Most mobile users still perceive a gap between the purpose and controllability of their PCs versus their mobile, with almost two thirds (62 per cent) not yet viewing their handset as an extension of their computer
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- Seven out of ten people have never downloaded an application to their mobile.
- However, the same people would rather be able to choose mobile applications for themselves than have their carriers decide what applications they can use.
- They would also be willing to pay more for a device that enabled them to control the applications.
Scott Durchslag, Chief Operating Officer of Skype, said: “This is a clear call to action for all of us in the communications industry – carriers, device manufacturers, and software companies like Skype – to work together to deliver what the mobile consumer, especially the next generation of device and data plan buyers, obviously want and expect.
"Together, we can bring a rich PC-like communications experience to mobile devices – one that combines voice, video, presence, instant messaging, and file sharing. In doing so, consumers win, and so does the industry as it fuels growth in data minutes and revenues.”
