Wi-Fi is the Data Beast of Burden among Smartphone Panelists
– How much mobile data Arbitron smartphone panelists consume varies by country and mobile platform
COLUMBIA, Maryland, March 4, 2013 – Wi-Fi® remains the leading data network for on-the-go data consumption in the five leading Arbitron Mobile-based smartphone panels.
Even as carriers aggressively promote their newest generation of cellular data networking, the Arbitron smartphone panelists in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and China, still consume nearly two thirds of their mobile data through public and private Wi-Fi networks.
Wi-Fi Data Consumption by Arbitron Mobile-based Smartphone Panelists | ||||
% via Wi-Fi | Cell + Wi-Fi Data MB/User/Month | % of panelists | ||
U.S. | 61% | 1,496 | 49% | |
U.K. | 69% | 1,181 | 37% | |
Germany | 63% | 861 | 37% | |
France | 53% | 730 | 24% | |
China* | 70% | 719 | 25% | |
Source: Arbitron Mobile Index: Executive Summary Reports, 4th quarter 2012 | ||||
The United States and United Kingdom have the heaviest users of mobile data in their Arbitron smartphone panels. A substantial share of the data consumption—61 and 69 percent respectively—relies on Wi-Fi networks.
China and France have the lightest users of mobile data in their Arbitron Mobile-based smartphone panels, both in terms of the average monthly data consumed and the share of the panel who consume more the 1,000 MB a month. However, their respective share of Wi-Fi networks as a data source stands at a polar opposite.
China panelists consume the largest share—70 percent—on Wi-Fi networks. French panelists, consume the smallest share—53 percent—of mobile data on Wi-Fi.
In all five of the Arbitron Mobile panels, Apple iOS users are heaviest consumers of mobile data and are the heaviest users of Wi-Fi for their on-the-go data needs.
Data Consumption by Leading Mobile Operating Systems | |||||
Apple iOS | Android | ||||
MB/User/Month | % via Wi-Fi | MB/User/Month | % via Wi-Fi | ||
U.S. | 2,512 | 66% | 821 | 57% | |
U.K. | 2,216 | 80% | 740 | 64% | |
China* | 1,636 | 81% | 347 | 65% | |
France | 1,527 | 70% | 635 | 52% | |
Germany | 1,203 | 71% | 566 | 56% | |
Source: Arbitron Mobile Index — Executive Summary Reports, 4th quarter 2012 | |||||
Apple iOS was the predominant operating system among the heavy data users in these five smartphone panels. Seventy-two percent of iOS users in the U.S. and German panel were in 1,000+ MB/month club; in the U.K., 76 percent, and in China 60 percent. In stark contrast, only 29 percent of the iOS users in the France panel consumed more than 1,000 MB/month in the fourth quarter 2012.
About iResearch Consulting
iResearch Consulting, founded 2002, is the leading consulting and media measurement company in the Internet industry in China. With more than 200 employees, iResearch, headquartered in Shanghai, has been at the forefront of Chinese Internet measurement and operates a currency Internet audience rating service for China.
About Arbitron Mobile
Arbitron Mobile Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arbitron Inc., uses a proprietary, on-device software meter to provide marketers, the media, content providers, app developers, and wireless access suppliers with information on how mobile consumers use apps, surf the web, engage in social media, participate in e-commerce, and employ their devices to communicate.
For more information, visit www.arbitronmobile.com or contact mobile@arbitron.com.
About Arbitron
Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) is an international media and marketing research firm serving the media—radio, television, cable and out-of-home; the mobile industry as well as advertising agencies and advertisers around the world. For more information, visit www.arbitron.com.
