FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-A new survey finds that the needs of wireless users are slowly diverging into various market segments, and that network operators and devices makers will have to segment their products in order to target each new user group.
“The consumer and business worlds are diverging as individuals continue to use mobile devices, applications and services beyond work hours,” said Randy Giusto, vice president of IDC’s Personal Technology and Services research. “Understanding the usage patterns of discrete types of mobile users will help technology vendors and wireless operators map out where they need to focus their mobility efforts, and IT professionals where they need to make adjustments in their mobility initiatives.”
According to IDC’s new “Exploring Usage Models In Mobility: A Cluster Analysis of Mobile Users” report, there are four main groups of wireless users. First, there are the “display mavens,” individuals who are often on the go and use wireless entertainment applications during idle periods. The “mobile elite” are the early adopters who use the latest devices, applications and solutions. The “minimalists,” are the opposite of the mobile elite, and use just the wireless basics. And the “voice and text fanatics” tend to be focused on text-based data and messaging.
The firm said hardware, software, and mobile solutions vendors must understand individual’s needs today and how they will change over time in order to fully take advantage of the market.
