Did you know that women are driving the smartphone market? That a large number of workers are bringing their own networks into the office? Or that consumers want devices that require less focus?
According to Afrizal Abdul Rahim, Head of ConsumerLab, Ericsson South East Asia & Oceania, the above three are part of the 10 hot consumer trends.
On 16 March, he shared the highlights of a study with Computerworld Singapore. The Ericsson study is based on survey done in 2012 in 15 markets-- Italy, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Sweden, UK, US , Hong Kong, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Russia, Ukraine and China.
The study base comprised users of devices aged 15-69.
According to the study, the following are the top 10 consumer trends for 2013 and beyond:
Cloud reliance is reshaping device needs: Users appreciate having apps and data seamlessly available on multiple devices; This is most evident among tablet users
Computing for a scattered mind: Consumers want devices that require less focus and better fit their daily lives. It is no wonder then that the purchase intent for tablets is higher than for PCs and is higher for smartphones than laptops.
Bring your broadband to work: 57 percent of smartphone users use privately paid subscriptions at work
City dwellers go relentlessly mobile: Network coverage is the fourth most important driver of satisfaction with city life; Mobile network coverage is essential, as consumers of all ages use their smartphone to stay connected all day.
Personal social security networks are emerging: Consumers are increasingly putting their trust in personal networks; LinkedIn and Twitter are replacing traditional job application processes
Women are driving the smartphone market: In Singapore, for example, there are 51 percent male smartphone owners and 49 percent female smartphone owners; but there are 56 percent female smartphone intenders compared to 44 percent men (those intending to buy smartphones). In social networking and gaming, women trump men. Seventy percent of women use social networking and 67 percent of women play online games (these could be basic games).
Cities are becoming hubs of social creativity: City dwellers have the most online friends. Forty-four percent use social media to stay up to date with friends and family.
In-line shopping is growing: 32 percent of users already shop with smartphones. The weekly online shopping usage frequency for Singaporeans is 55 percent; the same is 41 percent for Malaysians.
TV is going social: Sixty-two percent of those surveyed said they use social forums while watching TV and video.
Learning in transformation: One in five Singaporeans have education apps downloaded in their phones. Eighty-six percent of Singaporeans and 80 percent of Malaysians look up the Internet weekly for educational purposes.