A new Google report claims that mobiles are shaping the pattern of India’s internet usage with over 60% of all shopping and 50% of travel queries coming from handsets. It also asserts that there has been a 200% rise in searches for 4G-ready devices.
Google claims this growth is driven by the launch of 4G services in the country. On the other hand, queries for 3G-compliant smartphones have dipped by 35%. Furthermore, manufacturers like Samsung and Micromax have announced that they will no longer produce 2G-only phones and concentrate on their 3G and 4G output.
As per the Google report, 4G phones had represented a third of shipments during the July to September quarter. The price of these devices has additionally gone down by 75% within the past year. This in turn has accelerated the adoption rate of first-time smartphone users. Many of these consumers are experiencing the internet for the first time as well.
Google essentially states that mobiles are now the growth engine for the online industry in India. Over 60% of all YouTube visits and 41% of job hunting searches are apparently from handsets now. This development has also fueled the popularity of startups working within niche business categories such as hyperlocal services, helping them go mainstream.
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Even platforms like taxi apps and digital payments are starting to get a foothold in the nation. However, a contrasting survey by the Pew Research Center which came out a few days ago indicates that there is still a long way for India to go before it catches up with other countries when it comes to internet usage.
The firm had said that only 17% of Indians were in possession of a smartphone. The country additionally saw a rise of only 6 percentage points from 2013 to 2015 in terms of internet adoption.