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Survey Shows Australians Feel Ripped Off By Mobile Internet

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 1:25 PM on April 14, 2008
K660i.jpg
The fun thing about statistics is that with enough creativity, you can make them say anything, making them a great way to convince other people that your point of view is better than a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.

I mention this not because I disagree with the findings of this survey - in fact, they're quite accurate, in my opinion - but because they were commissioned by 3 Mobile and Sony Ericsson to educate about the new K660i mobile phone and its mobile browsing features.

The study, which was conducted in March by surveying 653 Australians aged between 18-49,  came back with the following statistics:

 


  • 96% of Australians want cheap and accessible mobile internet access
  • 91% say barriers like cost and usability are holding mobile internet back
  • Accessing search engines (76%) and email (74%) are the most popular function of mobile internet
The rest of the press release, which you'll find below in its entirety (woohoo!), goes on to say how 3's X-series isn't expensive and Sony Ericsson's K660i mobile phone is great for mobile internet browsing. Coincidence? Probably not.

So what do you think? What's holding mobile internet back in this country? Is it ridiculous pricing? Or the fact that the current crop of mobile phones just don't make the grade when it comes to surfing the web? Let us know in comments.

PRESS RELEASE
AUSSIES' LOVE OF ONLINE SET TO SKY ROCKET IN 2008 - WORK AND HOME NOT ENOUGH
New survey reveals overwhelming demand for cheap and accessible mobile web
• 96% of Australians demanding cheap and accessible internet access
• 91% say barriers like cost and usability currently prevent accessing mobile web
• Access to search engines (76%) and email (74%) on mobile phone most popular

Sydney, AUSTRALIA - 14 April 2008 - With Australians spending more time online than
ever before, a new survey released today by mobile communications leaders Sony Ericssonand 3 mobile has shed light on the consumer's view of the internet on the mobile. 96% ofpeople said they want constant, cheap and accessible internet access, and more than half(53%) say they need internet access outside of work or home.

Although almost every Australian owns a mobile phone, and with 3G data speeds offering
access to the net while mobile a faster experience, 91% of people still see barriers in doingso, including a perception of high costs and a poor user experience.

The survey found if more Australians had cheap and easy web access on their mobile 80%would spend more time online, with 66% of respondents saying their internet usage wouldincrease by up to four hours each week.

"This survey reinforces what I've long suspected - as Australians' become evermore mobile,there is a clear need for reliable, efficient and cost effective access to the internet and avariety of online applications on mobile devices," stated Peter Blasina, a leading Australianconsumer technology expert. "2008 will be about mobile web browsing and it being at thecentre of the ongoing evolution in communication."

Adoption of Mobile Web Technology
The survey also reveals the need for web access on mobiles does not support generational stereotypes, and accessing the internet on the move isn't just for the young. Of respondents there is only a slight margin of difference (12%) between those aged 16-24 years old and those aged 25-49 year olds that say they would increase internet usage if they used on amobile device.

"Proliferation and uptake of the internet on PC was the driving force behind Sony Ericsson
re-designing the mobile web experience," stated Josh Oxspring, Head of Marketing, Sony
Ericsson Oceania. "With products specifically designed to mirror the PC internet experience, such as is found in the recently announced Sony Ericsson K660i, our handsets overcome barriers to bring mobile web browsing to the masses. Web browsing on a mobile is now officially easy and fun."

Driving Usage of Web on Mobile
In regards to sites people would access from a mobile phone, the survey indicates search
engine sites (76%) and email (74%) were the most valuable to access on the move. Other
popular sites to access include timely, up to date news and current affairs (63%) as well
sports sites (34%).

"3's customers have been heading to the internet on their mobiles since 2006 and its value and a good experience that's the key. As consumers we won't tolerate a poor online
experience at home or work, and we won't on the mobile either," says Christina Ferve, Head of Content at 3. "2008 in our view is certainly a year where the mobile internet will continue to grow, through a combination of higher awareness from consumers of what they can do on their mobile, and devices with browsers that support a better experience."

With mobile web available on 3 since 2006, last year 3 introduced new pricing and services with the X-Series and new content packages called Explorer Packs. For a flat subscription fee each month, starting from $8, these give customers generous data allowances to surf the web as well as unlimited access to Planet 3 content such as news, weather, sports and entertainment."

Sony Ericsson K660i
The survey was conducted in conjunction with the launch of Sony Ericsson's K660i, a phone specifically designed for mobile web browsing. Featuring unique applications and Web browsing design such as one-click access to bookmarked favourites, illuminated shortcut keys, landscape browsing of Web sites, and in-built software like Google Maps for Mobile, the K660i provides a rich mobile Web browsing experience in a straightforward way. The Sony Ericsson K660i will be available through 3 mobile for $0 on a 49 cap with 3 mobile.

For more information please log on to www.three.com.au.

*The survey was carried out by a third party in March 2008, surveying 653 Australians aged 16-49 across all states. Interviews were conducted using CATI (computer assisted telephone interviewing) with telephone numbers randomly selected from electronic White Pages. Age, sex and region quotas were applied to the sample and, following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by sex and area to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.

- ENDS -

Comments

Josh

Posted April 14, 2008 3:56 PM

Yeah, with Telstra / Bigpond leading the way in ripping people off.
Who's surprised.

JB

Posted April 14, 2008 4:00 PM

Ridiculously high prices and lack of carrier choice in this region (read Telstra NextG is all thats available) is holding me back from mobile internet.

Sean

Posted April 14, 2008 7:02 PM

Prices are what are holding me back. I will definetaly get an iPhone is the costs of the mobile internet are reduced, otherwise, calls will have to do.

alex4point0

Posted April 14, 2008 7:07 PM

A car accident saw me spend a couple of weeks on my arse using mobile broadband connected to a PC. Not tracking my spend (and oh how I love that expression) resulted in a $700 mobile broadband bill for that month. Grousing about the media saturation of "$30 for 2gig / month!" advertisments to the network's customer service department resulted in a recalculation of said $700 bill. Further grousing resulted in the difference being refunded to my visa/debit card ... but the original rampant consumerism resulted in my value to the company being overestimated, which resulted in cheaper plans and member 'benefits', which resulted in a handset upgrade at anniversary. It was the long way around, but I had a positive mobile broadband experience. Eventually.

zacislost

Posted April 14, 2008 7:32 PM

/waits for 3G iPhone ..

I know I'd pull out my laptop every train tip to and from work/school personally but it's just so frigging cumbersome.. anyone can browse mobile internet on a PDA/phone in the tightest of commuting jams - its very desirable

Steve

Posted April 14, 2008 7:40 PM

The cost is the biggest factor to me. Regardless of how mobile dealers price it, any 'cap' that measures itself in terms of Mb is too restrictive. If I'm paying more than $10/Gb then it's too expensive (that's 1c per Mb). That said, I can use the net both from work and home, so really it's only the distance in between that matters.

Steve B

Posted April 14, 2008 10:42 PM

wow things change so fast ...

It was only last week that Giz listed 3 as a sponsor. That money didn't buy much love.

Nick Broughall

Posted April 15, 2008 5:34 AM

What do you mean? I said in the article that I agree with the findings, but think that the survey itself is flawed. Bottom line is that 3 still has the best mobile broadband packages in Australia, which hopefully we'll see from more of the networks soon.

Patrick

Posted April 15, 2008 10:52 AM

interesting read, I know you have copied the contents of the press release to this page. But do you happen to have a direct link to the press release?

Cam

Posted April 15, 2008 11:57 AM

3/Virgin/Vodafone/Optus have no coverage at all. The major metro area's are useless, as i live there! I want to be able to e-mail photos and videos to friends and family when on holidays, you think i can do that? Nope, not unless i want to pay more then the cost of the holiday in Telstra fees.

If you want to improve mobile broadband in Australia, get rid of Telstra. They are destroying our countrie's infrastructure.

James

Posted April 15, 2008 1:21 PM

Cost, big time. Give me a plan which includes 500mb of data usage a month and i'd be all over it. This plan also has to cost less than my first born child to be acceptable

David D.

Posted April 15, 2008 2:44 PM

Oh, come on, who are you kidding. Nothings better than a grilled ham and cheese sandwich!

Adrian

Posted May 26, 2008 10:00 AM

Is the original version of the press release available anywhere else? This is the only version of it I can find anywhere. Three and Sony's media release pages both have no mention of it...

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