Study: Mobile media access still vexing subscribers

Close to 80 percent of U.S. wireless subscribers say they wish it were easier to access the web via their mobile device, with a roughly comparable percentage expressing similar frustrations over rich mobile media access, according to a new user study released by interactive mobile media technology provider Azuki Systems. While noting that 62 percent of respondents indicate they either own or will purchase a smartphone within the next 12 months, Azuki reports a number of obstacles hampering the mobile user experience--while 69 percent of respondents cite lengthy media download and access times among the top three barriers, another 66 percent point to difficulties finding and navigating to relevant content. Azuki adds that iPhone and BlackBerry users identified similar shortcomings as well.

Despite the complexities of the user experience, Azuki notes U.S. subscribers are spending an increasing amount of time on their phones. Among the 79 percent who send text messages, 29 percent do so for more than two hours a week--37 percent of users below the age of 22 spend more than two hours a week texting. Half of users now access email from their phone, with nearly 30 percent of respondents between the ages of 35 and 44 doing so for more than two hours per week. Moreover, 52 percent of users access the mobile web, with 60 percent between the ages of 35 and 44 spending time each week on the mobile Internet. And while only 25 percent of users access mobile video services, 88 percent of this demographic consumes less than two hours of content each week, suggesting that so-called snacking behaviors are on the upswing.

Other results of the Azuki survey: A quarter of mobile users are accessing social networking sites from their mobile devices, with one in seven respondents between the ages of 23 to 34 doing so for more than two hours each week. Another 64 percent of respondents said they would share mobile content with their social networking contacts if it were easier to do so. Nearly 70 percent of users would agree to viewing mobile ads in exchange for free access to mobile content, and more than 65 percent would exploit location-tracking capabilities that offer promotions tied to local businesses.

For more on the Azuki survey:
- read this release

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