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Smartphones rival laptops for attention in Middle East [Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates)](Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) DUBAI- According to the 2012 Cisco Connected World Technology Report (CCWTR), in the Middle East smartphones now rival laptops as the single most desired device by 18-30 year olds as they are seen as the most versatile and compact. If they had to choose only one device, more than half of respondents preferred a smartphone, while slightly more than a third favoured laptops. Smartphones have surpassed desktop computers as the preferred workplace device from a global perspective and Smartphones were rated nearly twice as popular as a laptop PC. The results are based on a survey commissioned by Cisco of 1,920 university students and young professionals aged 18 to 30 globally. The report examines how this generation uses the Internet and mobile devices to connect with the world around them, and reveals their behaviours, attitudes, issues, and concerns about the creation, access, management, and privacy of the enormous amounts of data being generated daily by smartphones, sensors, video cameras, monitors, and other connected devices. Nearly three out of five (56 per cent) of the respondents said they rely on mobile applications all the time whereas about 22 per cent use mobile applications for games or entertainment. The majority (68 per cent) of the 18-30 year olds report using fewer than 10 smartphone apps regularly, and Nearly one in five (19 per cent) of respondents use 10 to 24 apps regularly. In the Middle East, more than three quarters (75.8 per cent) of the respondents said they shop online while 24 per cent do not engage in online shopping whilenearly half (47.5 per cent) of respondents regularly or always rely on customer reviews when deciding on online purchases. Sixty per cent of 18-30 year olds globally find themselves sub-consciously or compulsively checking their smartphones for emails, texts or social media updates. And 85 per cent of women versus 63 per cent of men find themselves often compulsively checking their smartphone for text, emails, social media updates. Almost one third of IT professionals stated they check their smartphones 'continuously' while 40 per cent of IT professionals check at least every 10 minutes. Nine out of 10 of respondents surveyed said they engage in online shopping. Fifty-seven per cent almost three out of five are willing to share their email address with stores and online sites in order to receive notices about discounts and sales. Almost 90 per cent upload photos to share or store on internet sites while 62 per cent upload videos to share or store on internet sites and 87 per cent have a Facebook account, and one in 10 have Facebook always up and 41 per cent update Facebook at least once a day, and over one in five update Facebook several times a day. Fiftysix per cent of respondents have a Twitter account, and 21 per cent tweet at least once a day. Rabih Dabboussi, General Manager, Cisco, UAE says: "The world is only just beginning to reap the benefits of this ever-changing Internet era. As more and more people, devices, sensors, crops, animals and other living things connect to the Internet, the volume and potential value of all the data generated by those connections will grow exponentially." [email protected] (c) 2012 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |