Survey: Why people don't use mobile applications

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: KEITH SHAW ON WIRELESS COMPUTING
DEVICES
09/20/05
Today's focus: Survey: Why people don't use mobile applications

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Majority of mobile data service users are disappointed with
service, survey says
* Links related to Wireless Computing Devices
* Featured reader resource
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This newsletter is sponsored by HP
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SPYWARE SHOOTOUT

Need to defend your network from spyware? Lots of tools and
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2005 suggests the gateway approach might be the best starting
point but is it a long-term strategy? Click here for more:
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_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Survey: Why people don't use mobile applications

By Keith Shaw

Anyone who has used a mobile device knows that wireless data
services and mobile applications continue to be disappointing
and frustrating for end users. To delve deeper into the reasons
why users are frustrated, Action Engine conducted a mobile
usability study to learn more about the user experience.

Not surprising, 64% of mobile data services users found the
experience of searching the Web on a mobile phone was
disappointing or somewhat disappointing. Further, respondents
said time-consuming data entry and slow response times were the
most frustrating aspects of using data services on a mobile
phone, Action Engine says.

The company sent an e-mail survey to 120 people who had
previously expressed interest in Action Engine's data services
offerings. Respondents were from North America, Europe, the
Middle East, and Asia-Pacific regions, with 74% male and 26%
female. Most (43%) were between the ages of 30-39.

When asked whether they used their mobile phone to access
applications like news, weather, sports, and the mobile browser,
34% said they didn't, despite faster networks and the number of
mobile phones that include an Internet browser.

The company then asked those users the main reason why they
don't access the mobile applications. Cost was the main reason,
with 46% saying the apps were too expensive. Applications that
are too complex to operate and access came in second, with 28%.
Only 2% said that they weren't interested in any of the services
offered, which suggests that if carriers could reduce the cost
and make them easier to use, then usage would grow.

The survey also asked that if they did use mobile applications
such as news and weather on their phone, how often would they
access them? Most said they would access them 2-5 times during
the week (43%), with 27% saying they would access them several
times per day. A huge number (93%) would access them at least
once a week.

Another interesting question was the types of mobile
applications users want. Topping the list is news and weather
(86% showed an interest), with travel, maps and driving
directions coming in a close second at 81%. Communications such
as e-mail or instant messaging applications garnered 75%
interest, and then information applications, such as city guides
or directories, came in with 74% interest from responders.

Despite a lot of hype from carriers, multimedia applications
such as music downloads and television has generated low
interest from users (only 39% said they were interested).
However, it's possible that the cost factor is at issue here,
along with unfamiliarity with the services. Other low-scoring
applications included sports (unknown whether this means
watching a sporting event, playing a sports event or using the
cell phone in a sporting event - see story
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/091205widernet.html?rl>
), games (34% interest), shopping/eBay (23%) and financial
applications (stocks and financial news) with only 28% interest.

The complete study can be downloaded from Action Engine's Web
site <http://www.actionengine.com/docs/Usability_Study.pdf>.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. McAfee, Omniquad top anti-spyware test
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile6979>

2. DemoFall preview <http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile7307>

3. EBay bid shows promise of VoIP
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile7308>

4. The rise of the IT architect
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile7186>

5. Volunteers rebuild Gulf Coast communications with wireless
nets <http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile7184>

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Keith Shaw

Keith Shaw is Senior Editor, Product Testing, at Network World.
In addition, he writes the " Cool Tools
<http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html> "
column, which looks at gizmos, gadgets and other mobile
computing devices.

You can reach Keith at <mailto:kshaw@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by HP
FROM THE NETWORK CORE TO THE NETWORK EDGE

Traffic management becomes critical as your network
infrastructure expands to support different types of traffic and
users. Most traffic management solutions have serious
limitations: too expensive, difficult to use, and overly taxing
on bandwidth. However ProCurve Networking by HP addresses these
requirements, overcomes the limitations of other solutions, and
gives you valuable insight into LAN performance. Click here to
download HP's Traffic Management Whitepaper
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=115530
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Wireless Computing Devices newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/mobile/index.html

Keith Shaw's Cool Tools:
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE

IS IT THE NETWORK OR THE STORAGE THAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Midsize and larger businesses often find their IT topology has
become a complex mix of servers, networks and storage systems.
Many of these companies also route long-haul traffic over
fiber-based networks - metropolitan-area networks, WANs and
private optical networks. Who's responsible when a
storage-related problem occurs on a fiber network? For more,
click here:

<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile7108>
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