Internet becomes basic necessity — Ericsson poll

Ericsson Group’s consumer research arm Ericsson ConsumerLab has identified consumer trends for 2012 and beyond, highlighting connectivity becoming as essential as roads and electricity, that social media are redefining news reporting, and that anyone can now be a service provider.

According to ConsumerLab’s findings, the Internet is one of the last things that consumers would be willing to give up if they had to reduce their expenses.

For more than 15 years, ConsumerLab has been conducting research into people’s values, behaviors and ways of thinking about ICT products and services. Ericsson’s global research program is based on annual interviews with 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and more than 10 megacities.

ConsumerLab head of Research Michael Björn said consumers have taken to smartphone apps like fish to water, touch and direct access via icons hide the complexity of Internet services, and people are now willing to explore many new areas of everyday life — anything from recipes to receipts — that benefit from connectivity.

“We just concluded a study in emerging markets, and found that even first-time mobile-phone users very quickly become internet users. Connectivity is becoming an increasing part of their daily activities,” he noted.

One of the hottest consumer trends is connectivity, which has become as essential as the air we breathe. “Once they have been connected, consumers say the Internet is one of the last things they would be willing to give up if they had to reduce their expenses,” the research said.

The study also said that everyone can be a service provider as there is a huge demand for new services. The Internet makes it possible for both companies and consumers to invent new solutions, such as apps.

The company also noted that social media have redefined news reporting. “Social media drive consumption of pictures, video clips and music, and now they also help consumers judge the relevance of news by providing necessary social commentary,” it said.

Mobile phones have also played a significant role in everyday life as consumers show most interest in mobile services that are directly related to nearby places or local services. “While 90 percent of all smartphone owners always carry their phones with them, only 80 percent of them mention carrying money,” ConsumerLab said.

Consumers are also now focusing on transparency greater than privacy. People are getting used to living transparent lives and they also expect companies and other organizations to act transparently.

With the rise of cloud services, the cloud has made things easy to use — sharing information and having several devices connected at all times is becoming the norm for consumers, resulting in the introduction of more cloud-based services. –Danessa O. Rivera, Daily Tribune