As mobile devices get smaller and offer robust functionality, users are more prone to pay for them themselves. According to Q1 2000 survey results from IDC`s Mobile User and Buyer ePanel program, 23% of mobile device users said they will personally fund the purchase of a personal companion such as a Palm or Pocket PC device over the next 12 months. In comparison, only 11% of users intend to fund the purchase of a notebook computer in the same time frame.
These results show many users are willing to buy personal companions because they cost $500 or less. "Users are willing to pay for the devices from their disposable income because of the productivity benefits the technology brings to their daily lives, whether it`s for business or personal applications," said Diana Hwang, IDC program manager, mobile research.
Over the next 12 months, 37% of respondents said their departments will pay for their personal companions. These results show that businesses ranging from small to large are more than willing to allow employees to purchase devices that the department either outright subsidizes or reimburses.
These results come from IDC`s recently introduced Mobile User and Buyer ePanel program, which tracks user awareness, adoption, usage patterns, and requirements for an array of mobile IT products and services on a quarterly basis. Through online surveys of an established panel of more than 2,000 users, influencers, and buyers actively involved in mobile device solutions, IDC is well positioned to provide the industry`s most timely and insightful market findings.
Additional key findings
For users in small, medium, and large businesses, the primary reason for staying with the same brand when upgrading to new devices was because they liked the brand and had a positive experience with a particular design.
42% of small business users plan to use a smart phone over the next 12 months, and 57.1% intend to use the smart phone for both business and personal use. 34% of personal companion users will access financial portals and financial news sites daily over the next 12 months.
There is a high percentage of interest, awareness, and intent to purchase products that include both Bluetooth and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) features, among the ePanel respondents. The survey results also explored similar subjects on notebook PC and cellular/PCS phone usage. Other topics included the usage of portable LCD projectors, printers, and digital cameras among mobile users, the implementation of various portable PC security measures at various sites, and user interest in smartphones over the next 12 months.
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