A new study published by Deloitte presents some interesting facts regarding smartphone applications: the availability of apps has greatly changed the lives of smartphone owners, but it is not one of the main reasons they decide to buy the devices in the first place.
According to Deloitte, of nearly 2,000 Americans responded to the survey, 58 percent say that the prices and hardware features (size, quality, keyboard, camera, etc.) are the main criteria they consider when choosing smartphones. Surprisingly, only 18 percent of consumers make their buying decisions based on third-party apps and their functionality. It appears that contrary to what people generally believe, apps are not the main driving force behind strong smartphone sales around the world.
However, for those who do download and use apps from Apple's App Store, Google's Android Market and other applications stores, their digital habits and lives have been increasingly influenced by the technology. The firm finds that quite a number of the surveyed app users have lessened their dependency on other gadgets in favor of smartphones or tablets: 42 percent have reduced or completely ceased using MP3 players, while 38 percent have done so with traditional AM/FM radios. Meanwhile, another 30 percent have abandoned their handheld gaming consoles, and 28 percent no longer use their standalone GPS navigators.
Deloitte concludes that the mobile app market is still in its infancy. But once consumers start using the programs, they see how useful they are and then begin to incorporate them into all aspects of their digital lives. "This can save them from carrying multiple devices and grant them better access to an array of media, entertainment and information," said Craig Wigginton, partner and telecommunications leader for Deloitte &Touche LLP.
In the next few years, it is foreseeable that more and more people will start using mobile applications. Apps may eventually become the major selling point for smartphone buyers.
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