NokiaNokia study reveals Indian smartphone users' preferences

Nokia study reveals Indian smartphone users’ preferences

Nokia Logo The growing market for smartphones has propelled companies in the tech realm to gain deeper insights into consumers’ minds. In collaboration with Cornell University’s Professor Trevor Pinch, Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia conducted a study in about 10 countries to comprehend usage patterns and behavior of smartphone owners. It has been revealed in this research that Indian smartphone users prefer business-focused apps such as email and expense managers.

According to the report, 77 percent of Indian consumers boast of approximately 30 apps on their smartphone. This figure has been further elaborated with results indicating that 93 percent of the male population prefers downloading application as opposed to 87 percent of the feminine segment. The latter is also said to be more active on the social networking front with around 43 percent procuring related apps.

“Apps are becoming intrinsic to the way we live,” revealed Professor Trevor Pinch, Cornell University. “Our relationship with them has turned from occasional use into a real dependency. It is because of this that our personal app ‘collections’ represent our unique needs, personality and interests. We can learn much about a person’s behavior via a mix of their choice of apps, personality variables, use variables and competence variables.”

The research has distinctly differentiated between apps on the mobile phone and their usage. Applications revolving around music, games, social networking, business and utilities have made their way into the chart of the most popular downloaded applications. In terms of usage, social networking apps top the table followed by music, business, utilities and games. Further, majority of the population in the 18-24 age group is pointed out to obtain and use social networking apps.

“What is really interesting about this data is that we are seeing app habits in new ways,” enunciated Pinch. “Two-fifths (43 percent) of those questioned rely on their apps many times throughout the day – but in different contexts. The beauty of mobile devices is that they can be used with such versatility. For example, the business person can come home and hand their phone over to their kids to play games on.”

It has been revealed that 31 percent of people employ apps while they lounge at home whereas 29 percent prefer them on the go. Almost 48 percent smartphone owners use these apps throughout the day even as 22 percent like to log in and out two to three times on a weekly basis. Besides, 58 percent select applications based on their beneficial values whereas 48 percent like staying in tune with changing times. Lastly, 17 percent of the surveyed Indian audience choose free apps instead of those which require them to shell out money.

“Apps are the way in which we bring our devices to life and empower them to be like our own personal magic wands. Just like an old music collection, our apps – and the ways in which we use them – can reveal the heart and soul of who we truly are. They tell our stories,” remarked George Linardos, Vice President of Media, Nokia.

Other than India, the study covered behavior patterns and attitudes of smartphone customers in China, Singapore, Brazil, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Germany, Italy, the UK and the USA. The statistics gathered in these regions unveiled that South Africans like to stay connected as 45 percent employ social networking applications. The mobile gaming segment is flooded in Singapore with 49 percent users downloading related apps in the country. It’s neighboring Chinese population keeps itself updated with news and other information through apps.

With such statistics on the card, we are sure that application developers can now offer necessary bits to users for satiating their needs.

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