Will web hosting users look to mobile internet customers?

Web hosting users may have to start looking to attract mobile customers as well as online users as a new report has indicated that mobile internet is on track to dominate access to the web from 2011 onwards.

From 2011, the number of active 3G devices in the UK will be 36.3 million, as well as 6.4 million dongles/embedded devices, meaning that the total number of mobile broadband connections will stand at 42.7 million, mobileSQUARED has projected. This is slightly higher than the expected 42.5 million fixed-line broadband users, the company said.

The research revealed that between one and ten per cent of a company’s internet traffic is already generated by a mobile device. It also predicted that mobile content and services revenues, including applications, in the UK will almost treble from current revenues of £242.1 million in 2009.

Revenue from internet-based mobile advertising models of banners and links will be worth £83.7 million in 2014, according to the study.

Despite this positive forecast for the platform, not all are convinced by mobile internet access. Chris Marling, editor of Broadband Genie, commented: "It has become a fantastic tool for getting online on the move, but signal drops and slow connections really blight the service – not to mention small screen sizes and fiddly web surfing."

"Fixed-line is still setting the agenda for broadband speed," Mr. Marling stated. He pointed out that new products will be dependent on the reliability of fixed-line, as "3D and 360 degree TV are going to need fast, stable speeds to make them work".

He did, however, say that he was sure mobile broadband would continue to grow when it comes to email, web surfing and social networking.

A recent report by Gartner showed that mobile phone sales dropped by six per cent in the second quarter of 2009, while smartphones grew by 27 per cent over the same period.

Written by Jermaine Jones.