Wireless an' mobile users want more Wi-Fi and would use it if it may data out faster and saved them money notes a new study by Smith Micro, conducted by uSamp. More owners of smartphones would use them as Wi-Fi hotspots if the feature wasn't so expensive. Many CTIA attendees use "unauthorized" apps for Wi-Fi hotspots and data tethering.
- Ninety-five percent of smartphone users would leverage Wi-Fi if it enabled better mobile data performance.
- 88 percent would prefer to access Wi-Fi networks if it reduced their monthly phone bill.
- While 82 percent of respondents want to use their mobile device as a hotspot, almost one-third don’t due to cost or usability issues.
- 84 percent of respondents would allow a carrier to provide automatic Wi-Fi connections in exchange for better device performance or a lower phone bill.
- When participants were asked about allowing carriers to install software that enabled automatic network transitions, only 2 percent of participants indicated that privacy would be a consideration.
- Ninety-six percent of Wi-Fi tablet users want access to the Mobile Internet using their smartphones, and 59 percent are willing to pay to use their phone in that capacity.
- While 54 percent of users surveyed have used their mobile device’s hotspot capabilities, over half do not pay their carrier for the capability, and instead opt for third-party free or paid tethering apps to connect.
- 37 percent of respondents indicated they would prefer a mobile data plan that offered a flat-fee per use based on the type of application used versus paying for Gigabytes used.
So what this does mean to you, dear readers? if the carriers can and there is software to do it, they will promote Wi-Fi usages. AT&T smartphone users already automatically connects to free AT&T Wi-Fi when it is available at Starbucks Barnes & Noble, McDonalds' FedEx Office, in Times Square, hotels, stadiums and other high-data traffic locations.
Smith Micro will be presenting these survey results during a webinar on Thursday, May 17, at 8 a.m. PDT. The webinar, titled “Data Offload – Carrier Strategies and Consumer Perspectives,”