Mobile Internet is 450 million users strong and doubling in four years
By Joe Wilcox | Published December 9, 2009, 10:07 PM
Do you browse the Web on your phone, iPod touch or other portable wireless device? Congratulations, you're one of the 450 million mobile Internet users, according to IDC. The analyst firm today predicted that number would reach 1 billion by 2013.
I'll do some quick math. Apple has shipped more than 30 million iPhones, so there's a possible 6 percent or so of mobile Internet users -- and that's not counting more than 20 million iPod touch users. Another nearly 30 million Crackberry -- ah, BlackBerry -- addicts accounts for another 6 percent of users.
"Internet-connected mobile devices are reshaping the way we go about our personal and professional lives," John Gantz, IDC's chief research officer, said in a statement. "With an explosion in applications for mobile devices underway, the next several years will witness another sea change in the way users interact with the Internet and further blur the lines between personal and professional."
That change may be accelerating, with smartphones pushing the gas pedal. In October, Gartner reported that smartphones accounted for 14 percent of overall mobile device sales, but would grow to 37 percent by 2012. Gartner forecasts 180 million smartphone sales in 2009, exceeding notebooks for the first time. From 2009, Gartner predicts that consumers would spend more on smartphones than notebooks.
No surprise, mobile Internet usage is more informational -- search, online news and sports, e-mail and instant messaging -- and where recreational, downloading music and videos.
Besides, the mobile Internet forecast, IDC also offered up a plethora of other information about Internet usage:
- The number of Internet users will increase from 1.6 billion this year to 2.2 billion -- or one third of the global population -- by 2013.
- China has more Internet users than any other country -- 359 million growing to 566 million in 2013.
- The number of U.S. Internet users will grow from 261 million in 2009 to 280 million in 2013.
- As measured by percentage of population with Internet access, the United States hugely leads China.
- India's Internet population will grow nearly two-fold over the next four years. IDC didn't give exact numbers of users.
- The number of devices -- mobile phones, PCs and video games -- accessing the Internet is more than 1.6 billion. The number will grow to more than 2.7 billion by 2013.
- The United States leads the world with the most Internet connected devices, but China ranks tops for mobile Internet-connected devices -- 85 million, or nearly 20 percent of the worldwide total.
- The number of Internet users making online purchases exceeds 624 million worldwide. Online purchases will double, from $8 trillion to $16 trillion, between 2009 and 2013.
- Global Internet advertising will reach $61 billion this year, growing to over $100 billion in 2013. The 2009 figure represents 10 percent of advertising spending across all media categories. IDC forecasts 15 percent by 2013.
'The next several years will witness another sea change in the way users interact with the Internet and further blur the lines between personal and professional," Gantz expressed in the statement. He's so right about that.
Because it's not just end of the year, but end of the decade, I have a question for Betanews readers: How do you expect to be accessing the Internet in just five years? PEW Internet forecasts that by 2020, the mobile phone -- and not the PC -- will be the primary way people access the Internet. I predict the transition will be much sooner. What do you think? Please respond in comments.
sorry, but I still can't get myself to browse the internet on a ...4 inch screen. It's painful to my eyes and my nerves. In addition, at least where I leave, 3G is still expensive and unstable...
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|Agreed. I hear a lot of people predicting that this will happen and happen soon, but I can't see it. Internet everywhere, at least with cell phones is prohibitively expensive for some people. I don't have internet on my phone and never will until these prices equalize out a bit, or are slightly more reasonable. $30 - 45/month is NOT reasonable, IMHO. There are some carriers (I believe sprint?, maybe Boost?) that include it for a lower monthly fee, so hopefully the bigger companies will follow suit.
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|If you read the article again, you notice that the majority of mobile users are NOT in the U.S., where the carriers charge a small fortune for wireless. I was recently in India, and EVERYONE has a phone with Internet access that is FREE. And since most people can't afford a computer, the mobile device is their only option--so a 4 inch screen is better than nothing. The pricing and restrictions that U.S. carriers impose on customers puts U.S. users at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the world. I was in South America earlier this year and paid 4 cents per minute and received incoming text messages for free. Why is mobile so much cheaper in so many other countries?! I can see these predictions coming true outside the U.S.
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|I do agree with the IDC about mobile internet usage increasing tremendously--especially as wireless broadband speeds increase. However, the future of access to the internet will not be the small screen, but the really big.
Internet-enabled TV will be the prominent way users access the internet by 2020.
Mark my words. Do I get a cookie if I'm right?
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|"However, the future of access to the internet will not be the small screen, but the really big."
It will be both. But eventually some tech will come out where our mobile devices will project our media, and large displays will likely be a thing of the past.
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|If I am writing code I need a computer with a large keyboard and 2 screens.
If I am doing some light browsing in front of the TV then I will use a small laptop.
If I want to quickly check a fact or definition then I will use my iPhone.
If I am walking down the street and want to check some stats on my website then I will use my phone.
Mobile devices add their own unique use-cases so I think they will be used for additional easy tasks. There will always be room for desktops.
The key is to use web-based applications so you can switch between all the devices you like without worrying about being able to do what you need to do. With some clever programming you could switch to your phone from the desktop mid-task.
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|These figures don't really surprise me that much. I constantly use my iphone to check emails when i'm at home or travelling. I think that with more and more cafes and restaurants offering free wi-fi then the number of mobile internet users will keep on rising. By 2015 I think more people will be using mobile phones or some other device than PCs to access the net.
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|@SiFu So it's us for 2015 and PEW Internet for 2020. Coffee's on me at your favorite Wifi restaurant if we're right.
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