Mobile Search Not As Big As One Would Think - February 25th, 2007
OK OK, I have to admit it. It looks like the prediction I made in the New Year about mobile search being big this year is already being proven wrong. Everyone knows that we British have taken to mobile communications a lot quicker than the Americans over the years. When we had the first mobile phones the Americans had pagers, when we were starting to use our thumbs to text each other the Americans were just getting those snazzy belt clip pouches that allowed them to sit their nice new “cell” phone next to their trusty “beeper”.
So it doesn’t bode well that in a recent UK survey it seems that not as many Brits are using their always on mobile phone internet connection as everyone originally thought they would. The survey done by 3G.co.uk showed that only 20% of subscribers actively search for content on their phones, and that only 2% were consistent daily searchers. This is a high contrast to the 89% that the mobile industry think are searching.
If I was that wrong then what are people using their phones for (apart from making calls and texting of course)? Well the survey then went on to show that the less frequent mobile searchers were mainly searching for ringtones and full music track downloads. A good omen for Apple as they prepare to drop another household bomb the iPhone later this quarter.
Not good for those who want a larger uptake of mobile content over the year, if we’re that far ahead of our American cousins that is? The mobile search industry is still young however and still not a lot of mobile users know how to use search services provided. So, even though my confidence is a little shaken and my pride a little dented, I stick by my original prediction but I extend the timeframe to which I originally quoted. Be prepared to see the prediction rear its head in Jan 2008.
Martin Vernon
Natural SEO Projects Manager
