Mobile Vs Desktop Browsing: How Long Before Mobile Takes Over?

There has been a lot of talk recently about how mobile browsing is going to overtake desktop browsing in the next few years. GoMo, a recent campaign by Google, has suggested that mobile use for the Internet will outstrip desktops by 2014, as more and more people opt to use their phones. As a result, businesses will face pressure to adjust marketing campaigns and website design to suit mobile sites, and to maintain a consistent brand image. However, it’s worth looking at mobile optimisation in more detail, as well as throwing out some caution over how quickly mobile browsing will grow, and whether or not it will really lead to a decline in desktop habits.

Importance of Mobile Optimisation

The growth of mobile use is tied to the increased availability of 3G and 4G Internet, competitive price plans, and smartphones designed for extended use, whether through larger and higher resolution screens, or through being optimised for power. GoMo identified trends for mobile usage indicate that 5.13 per cent of mobile use in Europe is currently focused on the Internet, with 10 per cent worldwide. With more people choosing to browse and shop online, as well as using social media networks to communicate with others, getting these sites right, and investing in mobile specific marketing campaigns, is becoming key.

One factor in these trends has been the use of 3G, 4G, and new forms of mobile linked Internet to bring services to rural areas that have previously struggled with broadband or satellite connections. This has been the case in China, India, and other parts of Asia, where mobile Internet usage has experienced a 192.5 per cent growth rate since 2010. 388 million mobile users are believed to be active in China, as more people invest in and use mobile services. The same is true of India, where the cost of using the Internet on a smartphone is often less than the cost of a laptop or a browser. As 4G becomes more common in the UK, Europe, and the United States, the ease of connection to superfast mobile Internet connections may produce similar results.

Caution

However, it is important to express some degree of caution when it comes to how quickly mobile growth is occurring. While people are using their mobiles more, they are still reserving their highest value purchases on desktop or laptop sites. Moreover, figures on desktop usage tend to obscure the wider use of laptops and other mobile devices. Specific times of the year, such as Christmas, are also providing spikes in desktop spending. In terms of the fast growing Asian mobile Internet market, it’s also worth noting that much of the spikes associated with mobile are occurring on weekends, when people are away from their work desks during the week.

Integration

There’s a case to be made that, while mobile browsing is increasing, desktop browsing is not going away. Rather, trends are moving towards using both in complementary ways. In this context, websites can be designed for easy adaptation between different screen sizes and interfaces, without necessarily having to focus more on one or the other. Moreover, certain things that desktop or laptop sites can do well, such as providing more menus and options onscreen than a phone, are retaining their popularity.

The future may well, then, see mobile act as a complement to specific forms of desktop browsing. Particular areas of growth are likely to include local searches, the use of QR codes in shops, and social media. 91 per cent of smartphone time on mobiles is reported to be spent on socialising, compared to 79 per cent of desktops. The intimacy offered by mobile browsing might consequently be an area where the platform excels, but does not produce a decline in desktop browsing for work, for multiple tasks, and for handling complex sites, as well as for making large purchases.

Author Bio: Rob James uses rpc mobile phone recycling to dispose of his old mobile.  Rob is a technophile who loves checking out the latest innovations and can be found blogging about mobiles, tablets, PC’s, and app’s. His favourite quote is “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday” – Dale Carnegie 

Tags: Desktop Browsing, Mobile Browsing

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com