Rich Fiscus
12 Sep 2011 16:59
Researchers are predicting mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, will dominate Internet use within the next four years.
The latest forecast from International Data Corporation suggests the number of mobile Internet users will grow by more than 16% per year, spurred primarily by tablet adoption, while PC based browsing will decline.
"Forget what we have taken for granted on how consumers use the Internet," said Karsten Weide, research vice president, Media and Entertainment for IDC. "Soon, more users will access the Web using mobile devices than using PCs, and it's going to make the Internet a very different place."
IDC's report shows the importance of recent lawsuits around the world which could have long lasting implications for consumer choice in both hardware and service providers. If AT&T has their way, the US will lose T-Mobile, the mobile Internet provider who has been instrumental in promoting both the Android smartphone OS and higher speed data networks.
Attempting to block the move through an antitrust lawsuit, the Justice Department claims this would eventually result in a further reduction to just two nationwide mobile carriers.
Apple, on the other hand, has been suing every major Android handset vendor in an apparent attempt to corner the high end handset and tablet markets.
In both cases there are significant questions whether what's best for the market leader is also best for the market. The time to deal with those questions is before either consumers or the markets themselves are harmed by a lack of competition.