Ericsson

As it turns out, consumers own multiple devices that either use or produce media - and in this world of sharing, having those devices connect easily to the internet is becoming the new baseline for ease of use. For this reason, we saw that 49 per cent of US digital camera owners wanted to connect their cameras in order to directly upload photos. In other words much easier than fiddling with memory cards and adapters. 

Smart women drive smartphone revolutionWe all know there is dramatic growth in smartphones, however it may be comforting to know this does not mean we are all turning into geeks - just the men are. In our 2011 survey of smartphone users in the US and the UK, more men than women use lower-penetration services just as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and video telephony, and they are as well more likely to download new apps. To make up for it, significantly more women use higher-penetration services just as voice calling, SMS and Facebook.

Seventy-one percent of female smartphone users check social networks on their phones, compared with only 64 percent of men - and 59 percent of women update their statuses, compared with only 51 percent of men.  By actively integrating the use of all communication channels into one device, women are driving mass-market adoption of smartphones.

Making shopping easierWhen we recently asked smartphone users in Berlin, New York, Paris and Shanghai, 67 per cent said they wanted to be able to make small payments using their phones. Sixty-six per cent were interested in mobile banking. However payments should not be seen in isolation.

When meeting with smartphone users and talking to them about their shopping behavior, they quite obviously told us that going directly for their wallets is not the best approach. Mobile payments must be put in the context of day in day out shopping habits. This includes everything from getting relevant product information to advice on recipes and caring for plants.

Global scale

Everything connectsNot only is urbanization continuing on a global scale, consumers are as well turning into urban nomads: many activities that were earlier only done at home are now done on the streets - meanwhile those requiring an internet connection.Fuelled by mobile broadband - where subscriptions have grown 60 per cent year-on-year - the data consumed by smartphone users is surging. Mobile data surpassed voice in Q4 2009 and was double the volume of voice traffic in Q1 2011. Total smartphone traffic will triple in 2011.