Mobile Device Usage for Online Activities Increases

According to a report published by an NPD Group division called Connected Intelligence, an estimated 37 percent of all consumers have transferred their general web browsing habits from their PC to either their tablet or smartphone.

Overall, this group of people have switched to their tablet or smartphone completely (from their PC), and it is used mostly for checking updates on social media sites like Facebook, or browsing the internet.

The report from the NPD group also noted that around 20 percent of respondents are now less likely to check or update their Facebook using their PCs, and 27 percent stated that their mobile device usage has increased when browsing the web.

The internet-connected TV is also sharing this new shift with tablets and smartphones, and 21 percent of respondents said that they used it to access the web and stream shows and movies; they are using their TVs much more. However, it is interesting to note that in spite of this increased mobile device usage, web browsing still occurs mostly on PCs, and 75 percent of consumers are noted to have said that the PC is still their main port of call when using the internet.

Interestingly, the report also identifies the signaling of a new trend where mobile device usage is set to increase.

The Director of Devices at Connected Intelligence, John Buffone, commented on the results from the survey: "Despite these shifts in behavior, computers will remain the fundamental content creation device in consumer's tool box for many years to come. Consumers, however, are switching their entertainment-centric behaviors to tablets, smartphones, and connected TVs at warp speed."

Buffone added: "During 2013 this trend will be further perpetuated as more mobile devices become enabled with screen sharing technologies such as AllShare and Miracast that allow users to bridge their mobile devices to their TV screens." (CY) Link