Online Mobile Devices to Reach 1 Billion by 2013 December 23rd, 2009
Portia Krebs

With exciting and life-enhancing broadband capabilities increasingly accessible via a range of mobile devices, the number of consumers using these tools to tap into the Internet is growing at an exponential rate.  In fact, a recent IDC study projects that the number of mobile devices that connect to the Internet will exceed 1 billion by 2013.  When you consider this year approximately 450 million users used their mobile devices to access the Internet – that means use is expected to more than double by 2013.

Online searches and reading news, swapping email and instant messages are just some of the uses fueling consumer desire for Internet-capable mobile devices.  Mobile devices have far exceeded simple calling capabilities – transforming into a far more dynamic device with virtually limitless options, thanks to broadband.

In addition to driving e-commerce growth and increased business applications over mobile devices, the Internet and mobile technology is delivering life-enhancing advances worldwide.  According to a World Bank report, the number of Internet users in developing countries increased tenfold between 2000 and 2007, and three billion mobile phone users live in these nations.  This increased Internet accessibility is delivering significant economic opportunities and health benefits for millions of people.

For example, in Peru, public health officials track medical inventories via text message.  Workers in Sierra Leone are able to transfer money to their families in remote villages.  Also, thanks to a computer program targeting rural agricultural villages in India, farmers from 40,000 villages have benefited from broadband connectivity – from increasing their profits and productivity to checking weather forecasts and crop prices, as well as learning new farming techniques.

As the Internet expands its reach across a variety of platforms, citizens worldwide can enjoy everything from unprecedented entertainment to extraordinary opportunities that enhance local economies and personal well-being.  Broadband-enabled technologies are blowing the doors wide open on all of these fronts and more.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 am and is filed under Benefits of Broadband. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.