Digital camera, Bluetooth, and music/radio playback on mobile phones are the
top three features that consumers consider essential for the next mobile phone
they will purchase, according to a recent
Research survey of 1,402 current wireless subscribers in seven countries.
The desire for camera phones with 2+ megapixels leads the pack with 47% of
consumers listing this feature as a "must have," followed by Bluetooth at 34%
and music/FM radio functionality at 32%.
Other key findings from
global wireless consumer survey are as follows
Consumers across all mature markets still choose their mobile
operator based on "the basics"
The three most common features that subscribers
have on their current mobile phones are
(64%), Internet access (61%), and 2+ megapixel cameras (58%).
Games and Internet access are also high on the
list of features that subscribers have on their phones, but never use.- The handset features that are least likely to be
regarded as essential are
and games.
However, says Clint Wheelock, vice president and chief research officer,
"Our survey results identified some surprising differences between markets.
Camera phones, for example, were more than twice as important for consumers in
versus those in the
Similarly, Bluetooth is considered essential by mobile subscribers in
Europe
but penetration of this feature is very low in
and
so it's of little importance to consumers in those countries."
Adds Wheelock, "Many mobile data and multimedia services are failing to
reach the mainstream not because they're unavailable, but because they fail to
provide a satisfactory user experience and pricing model for most consumers."
A new
Subscriber Profiles and Preferences," provides an analysis of survey results
from adult mobile phone users in seven countries
the
the
Korea
The web-based survey, which was conducted in 1Q08, captured details on
respondents' mobile phone usage patterns, purchasing behavior, satisfaction
with operators and handsets, and attitudes about a variety of voice, data, and
multimedia services.