BOSTON-People are still slow to adopt wireless mobile data services, the Yankee Group reported. In fact, there has been no significant increase in the number of people who use wireless data services since last year, according to the company’s 1997 Mobile User survey.
Only 4 percent of portable computer users access and transfer via a wireless modem today. However, among handheld device users, usage is three times higher, with 12 percent claiming to use wireless data communications, the Yankee Group said. Use is also higher among the most mobile-those who regularly travel more than 100 miles from their primary work locations.
Price is the main reason people are not adopting wireless services, the firm said, noting the answer was consistent among wireless phone, portable computer and pager users. Survey respondents named the high cost of transmitting data first and the price of the wireless data devices second.
Most survey respondents reported that they are not willing to pay more than $10 per month in service cost. Only 3 percent said they are willing to pay more than $20-the bare minimum one could expect to pay today. After price, survey respondents also said wireless data services had to be easy to use.
“Key to unlocking the wireless mobile data market lies in improving the cost value equation: higher perceived functionality at a justifiable cost,” said Roberta Wiggins, director of wireless mobile communications for the Yankee Group.
Results of the survey indicate that while only 31 percent of wireless phone users are interested in a combined voice and data device, pager, portable computer and handheld device users demonstrated significantly higher interest. These groups of users apparently do not want to carry multiple devices.
