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Smartphones 'driving surge in popularity of mobile-based broadband'
Friday 15th January 2010, by Daniel King
Smartphones - such as the iPhone, BlackBerry and Nexus One - are behind a surge in demand for mobile-based broadband, according to a new report.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has carried out research which suggests that in the last 12 months there has been a "renaissance" in the use of broadband internet on mobile handsets.
Such a revival in the fortunes of web browsing via a mobile device has been "largely driven" by the emergence of smartphones.
In Australia, 99 per cent of the population has 3G coverage and is enjoying the benefits of a "huge amount of investment" that is currently going in to producing super-fast connections - a trend that could be repeated across the world.
The study reveals that traditional voice calls are reducing, with revenue from mobile services - such as the use of broadband internet - overtaking that from conversations for the first time.
As of June 2009, there were 24.22 million mobile services in operation in Australia, as well 12.28 million 3G services - up nine per cent and 44 per cent respectively on 2008 levels.
Chris Chapman, chairman of ACMA, said: "Services such as 3G, voice over internet protocol and wireless broadband internet are being increasingly used, with factors such as lifestyle, age and family type shaping these choices."
Earlier this week Nokia revealed that the majority of the world's 4.6 million mobile phone subscribers access broadband internet through mobile devices before using home computers, with no sign of such a trend ending.
Categories: Broadband
