Canadians Major Users of Smartphones and Tablets
TNS, the planet’s biggest custom research company, conducted a study of 34,000 people in 43 countries (including greater than 1,000 in Canada) that determined that 41% of Canadians had a smartphone in comparison to the 28% worldwide figure. Males between 22 and 30 years old in Canada used smartphones the most. 23,081,000 Canadians out of a total population of 33,759,742 have a mobile phone for a participation rate of 68.4%.
Canadians’ loyalty to a particular mobile phone brand dropped to 28% in 2011 from 37% in 2010 while interest in content capability in mobile phones increased to 36% in 2011 from 24% in 2010. 40% of Canadians show an increasing interest in the “mobile wallet” whereby one uses a mobile phone as a credit or debit card to pay for things. In fact, 1 in 10 Canadians have already used a mobile wallet. Interest is increasing in using mobile wallets to pay for things in bars, restaurants and stores as well as household bills and mortgage payments.
7% of Canadians reported that they owned a tablet computer, compared to the North American average of 5%. 31% of Canadians plan to buy a tablet within the next six months with particular interest shown amongst the 31 to 40 age group.
Most Canadians (63%) see the tablet as another gadget while 14% plan to buy one as a replacement to a personal computer. However, eReading or eBooks is the one category where opinion is roughly divided between using a personal computer or a tablet.
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