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Mobile search awareness and usage continue to grow

Categories: Content, Mobile Web, Research
By: , IntoMobile
Thursday, August 10th, 2006 at 8:34 AM

Mobile Marketing AssociationThe Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) just announced the results of its first-ever mobile search study, which identifies many things such us most popular search categories, willingness to receive ads based on searches, average number of searches, usage by income level, acceptance of sponsored links and overall satisfaction with mobile search among the US consumers.

Key findings:

  • Being in its early stages of adoption, mobile search still has to gain momentum – 31% of respondents used mobile search for the first time in the past month. Current users conducted an average of 9 searches in the past month.
  • People recognize the benefits of mobile search after they’re introduced to the technology. Half of non-users were interested in trying mobile search over the next few months and 48% of them expect to start using it at least once per week.
  • Approximately 41% of all respondents indicate that sponsored links would not have an impact on their use of mobile search.
  • Current mobile search users represent several attractive market segments for advertisers. Respondents with an annual household income of $50,000-$75,000 conduct an average of almost 16 searches per month, the most of any demographic segment. Consumers age 45-54, college grads and people with children at home all reported using search more than 11 times per month.
  • 69% of respondents prefer advertisements that are related to local products and services.
  • The ability to search by voice was the top-rated feature – 37% of current mobile search users would be “a lot more likely” to use mobile search if voice control were added.

The study is available, free of charge, to all current MMA Global members. You can also get the MMA’s “Introduction to Mobile Search” guide from here (PDF download).

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.