Google released its Wireless Shopper Study for April 2013 and it showed some major trends in smartphone buying and shopping. Shoppers search for the device weeks before buying and now that many devices are available across carriers, they decide on the device first and then may change carriers for the best deal, especially if there is no contract necessary or the device has 4G LTE data access.
Over a third (35%) shop for the latest and greatest device which is more than the 25% who did so last year. The number one reason people shop for a new wireless device is that the can upgrade (42%). Other important factors are: