While the Apple iPad and other tablets are hot products,
the expense of requiring separate mobile broadband plans for each device to
connect to 3G or 4G services has been prohibitive, according to Strategy
Analytics.
Recently, leading mobile operators such as Rogers
Wireless and Bell Mobility in Canada, Telefonica Movistar in Spain, Orange
Mobistar and Proximus in Belgium have launched multi-device plans.
SFR France will launch an extra SIM option on one of its
mobile data plans by end of summer. In the US, market leaders Verizon Wireless
and AT&T have both said that they envision family data plans at some point
in the near future.
Our Strategy Analytics survey research shows that
consumers with multiple devices are hungry for a single data plan to connect
all of their devices on 3G and 4G. We have been suggesting the concept of
family data plans/ pooled data plans for some time, so we are pleased to see
more operator offerings of multi-device plans,” said Susan Welsh de Grimaldo,
director, Mobile Broadband Opportunities at Strategy Analytics.
60 percent of smartphone owners want a single, shared
data plan to connect multiple devices like tablets, smartphones and laptops.
50 percent of smartphone owners are interested in
connecting multiple devices through tethering to their smartphone. 40 percent
have an interest in a standalone 3G portable WiFi router (like the MiFi from
Novatel Wireless) to connect all their devices.
Operators looking to drive device uptake and minimize
churn in today’s competitive mobile broadband market should consider multi-SIM
or other multi-device plans,” said Sue Rudd, director, Wireless Operator
Strategies at Strategy Analytics.
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
