mobileu.co.uk

Smartphones and mobile internet not actually that popular?

Despite the proliferation of smartphones like Apple's iPhone, the HTC Hero and the array of Google Android handsets, under a quarter of Brits actually use their mobiles to access the internet, a new survey suggests.

Out of 2,000 mobile phone owners questioned about their internet usage habits during the first six months of 2009, a third said they'd never used their handset to access the web, 24 per cent revealed they do so less than once a week and eight per cent said they'd tried it but didn't intend to repeat the experience.

Essential Research's study also uncovered that social networking, travel updates and shopping vouchers are the primary reasons behind mobile internet use.

The research organisation's Alex Charlton says perceived cost, a lack of free trial periods, a poor retail experience and difficulties of use are to blame for holding smartphones back from the mainstream, adding: "There is an enormous gulf between the perceptions we hold about mobiles being a big part of our internet lives and the reality.

"In fact only a small percentage of us are truly internet mobile users and the industry has a big job to do to move mobile internet into our everyday lives."