Wireless
equipment major Ericsson announced that its ConsumerLab has identified the
hottest consumer trends for 2012 and beyond.
Some of
the highlights included that connectivity has become as essential as roads and
electricity, that social media are redefining news reporting, and that anyone
can now be a service provider.
The 10
hottest consumer trends:
1.
Connectivity is king. Connectivity has become as essential as the air we
breathe. Once they have been connected, consumers say the internet is one of
the last things they would be willing to give up if they had to reduce their
expenses.
2.
Everyone can be a service provider. There is a huge demand for new services.
The internet makes it possible for both companies and consumers to invent new
solutions, such as apps.
3. Social
media redefine news reporting. Social media drive consumption of pictures,
video clips and music, and now they also help consumers judge the relevance of
news by providing necessary social commentary.
4. Mobile
phones play a significant role in everyday life. Consumers show most interest
in mobile services that are directly related to nearby places or local
services. While 90 percent of all smartphone owners always carry their phones
with them, only 80 percent of them mention carrying money.
5.
Transparency greater than privacy. People are getting used to living
transparent lives and they also expect companies and other organizations to act
transparently.
6. The
cloud makes things easy to use. Sharing information and having several devices
connected at all times is becoming the norm for consumers, resulting in the
introduction of more cloud-based services. The main driver is ease of use.
7. Women
drive adoption of smartphones. Our 2011 study of smartphone users showed that
men still dominate usage of niche services on smartphones while significantly
more women use regular services such as voice calling, SMS and Facebook. By
actively integrating the use of all communications channels into one device,
women are driving mass-market adoption of smartphones.
8. Making
shopping easier. Our survey showed that 67 percent of smartphone users are
interested in mobile payments. Payments should not be seen in isolation but
must be put into a context of everyday shopping for example, product
information, bonus points, receipts and even indoor-shopping-mall navigation.
9.
Everything connects. Mobile data surpassed voice in the fourth quarter of 2009
and doubled voice in the first quarter of 2011. Consumers are increasingly
connecting to the internet and to things around them, such as cars, vending
machines, ticket gates and more.
10.
Uncertain times consumers strive for control. In times of economic
instability or when disasters such as earthquakes occur, we see renewed
interest among consumers in services related to utilities such as water and
electricity. Likewise, a change in disposable income is driving demand for
consumers to be in control of service consumption.
Ericsson’s
global research program is based on annual interviews with 100,000 individuals
in more than 40 countries and more than 10 megacities.
Consumers
have taken to smartphone apps like fish to water. Touch and direct access via
icons hide the complexity of internet services, and people are now willing to
explore many new areas of everyday life anything from recipes to receipts
that benefit from connectivity. We just concluded a study in emerging markets,
and found that even first-time mobile-phone users very quickly become internet
users. Connectivity is becoming an increasing part of their daily activities,”
said Michael Björn, head of Research at ConsumerLab.
Cities
involved in the latest research: Beijing, Berlin, Cairo, Hong Kong,
Johannesburg, London, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai,
Stockholm, Tokyo.
Regions/Markets
involved in the latest research: Argentina, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon,
Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan , Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic,
Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan,
Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, UK, Ukraine,
USA and Vietnam.
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
