WiMos Want Mo' Wi-Fi & Free Wi-Fi Hotspots, Says Survey

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.