Mobile data isn’t free. You know that, we know that, and we thought everyone else knew that, but according to a recent survey that was done by comScore, we couldn’t have been more wrong. They say that 29% of iPhone users in the US connect to the internet using nothing but cellular data. That number shrinks down to just 13% in the UK. But what about Android? An amazing 68% of Americans depend on their operator’s data network to connect to the internet, meaning they never bother configuring their device to join a WiFi network. That number falls to 43% in the UK, which is still pretty bad. Which operators have the most savviest customers? AT&T in the US, with 58% of their users smart enough to go through their settings menu. And Orange in the UK, with 76% of people knowing how to turn on WiFi. Which operators have the dumbest customers? Sprint in the US, just 29% of their customers bothering to join WiFi network. And Three in the UK, with 56% of their customers doing the same thing.
We can’t stress this enough, setup your WiFi! Chances are you use your device most often while you’re at work, at home, or at your friend’s place. The only time you should be relying on your 3G or 4G connection is when you’re either commuting or when you need to look something up immediately. Sure, it’s easier and faster to just do everything via your operator’s network, but it’ll cost you in the long run. Unless you have an unlimited data plan, we have to wonder what’s wrong with you?
The question that operators should be asking themselves now is how do they make connecting to WiFi easier? With more people going through a WiFi network, that obviously translates to more capacity on the cellular network. May we suggest NFC enabled WiFi routers that make connecting just a simple tap away?
No one likes those insanely long strings of alphanumeric characters.