Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 07/23/10 by Advisor
The Pew Internet and American Life Project just released a survey that found that six out of 10 Americans rely on wireless technology a mobile phone or laptop to access the Internet. Among the particularly compelling findings: English-speaking Hispanics and African Americans are leading the way in mobile connectivity and using wireless as their on ramp to the Internet.
The survey determined that 87 percent of English-speaking Hispanics in the U.S. own a cell phone, compared with 80 percent of whites. And 53 percent of these Hispanics access the Internet from their mobile phones. Hispanics also lead in their use of mobile data applications, including: taking pictures, sending and receiving text messages, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail, watching videos and using social networking sites.
I am proud our community is leading the way in wireless usage and am excited to see how this adoption can help bolster the community as a whole — from entrepreneurial opportunities and improving health care to educational development and greater public safety.
In fact, the Pew study reinforces many of the findings from a 2009 in-depth report released by the Hispanic Institute and Mobile Future examining mobile broadband's impact on the Hispanic community.
The study, "Hispanic Broadband Access: Making the Most of the Mobile, Connected Future," illustrates how advancements in wireless broadband are democratizing educational and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Hispanics traditionally have lagged behind other groups in adopting broadband connections at home. But that's clearly not the case with wireless. While the Hispanic community is growing at a rapid pace, the wireless sector is evolving just as quickly. With opportunities and products emerging daily, consumers are able to select what's best for them from a vast selection of plans, applications and services.
But this didn't happen by accident. The wireless sector has grown tremendously in a short period of time because policy makers wisely set a light touch framework that put consumers in charge of the market and encouraged investment, innovation and growth. This led to increased research and development for cutting-edge wireless services and vibrant wireless networks connecting countless communities like ours that otherwise might have been left behind.
This year, the Federal Communications Commission released an ambitious National Broadband Plan to help ensure that no one ends up on the wrong side of the digital divide. The FCC set a terrific goal, but in order to meet its objectives, regulators must avoid imposing any rules that could deter the growth and innovation we see in wireless, including trying to regulate the Internet through so-called Net neutrality rules or attempting to micro-manage the highly competitive wireless sector.
By maintaining the current light-touch regulatory approach, wireless technology investors and innovators will continue to be spurred by robust market opportunities and healthy competition.
The result? A consumer-driven industry that is narrowing the gap by offering new cutting-edge products and services to millions of mobile subscribers.
Today's wireless sector is connecting American consumers in ways we never dreamed possible. But putting rules in place that could stifle this vibrant sector would be counterproductive, and in today's challenging economy, this is a gamble that neither Main Street nor Wall Street can afford to lose.
The article was orginially published in The Statesman.
Posted: 07/09/10 by Jonathan Spalter
Consumer confidence remains low in today’s tough economy, but the Pew Internet and American Life Project’s new Mobile Access in 2010 report illustrates a contrarian streak among U.S. consumers when it comes to the mobile marketplace. Across ages and demographics, Americans are showing a remarkable bullishness when it comes to the value and innovation they see in their wireless purchases. In fact, usage of connected devices and applications continues to grow at an unabated and staggering pace.
Over the past year, the number of Americans connecting wirelessly to the Internet is up 8 percentage points, with six out of 10 Americans now using their smartphone or laptop to access the Internet. In fact, more Americans now use their mobile device to connect to the Internet (38%) than play a game on their device (34%). And, it’s not just young millennials gravitating to the nexus of wireless and the Internet. Their parents—folks in the 30 to 49 year old age bracket—are now leading the growth.
African Americans and Latinos also continue to lead in mobile connectivity. Two-thirds of both communities are wireless Internet users. And, African Americans and Latinos continue to outpace whites when it comes to cell phone ownership (87% versus 80%).
These insights illuminate the wireless debate at a pivotal moment, coming on the heels of President Obama’s Executive Order announcing his Administration’s intention to increase the amount of spectrum available to meet consumers’ fast-growing mobile needs. Pew’s methodical documentation of a steep adoption and usage growth trajectory—cutting broadly across the U.S. population—powerfully illustrates the profound importance of these spectrum allocation efforts and the equally essential need to safeguard policies that encourage the billions of dollars in investment needed to get this spectrum into use across the country. This process can take six to 10 years to complete, from the announcement of auctions to the deployment of actual networks, so we need to get started now.
Unfortunately as temperatures rise in Washington (both literally and metaphorically), it seems no debate is safe from the partisan pull of election-year politics. Even U.S. wireless policy, which has enjoyed bipartisan support for a light-tough regulatory framework through both Republican and Democratic administrations, is getting dragged into the pro-regulation and heated rhetorical fray.
It’s hard to justify given the frenetic pace of competition across the mobile landscape. Verizon and Google recently have gone public with their ambitions to challenge the AT&T/Apple iPad alliance. HP, Dell and others also are in hot pursuit. Cox is becoming the first U.S. cable company to directly offer wireless services. Regional players like Leap Wireless and MetroPCS are thriving. And, the Palm Pre was recently offered to consumers for the jaw-dropping price of a single cent. Consumer choices of service providers, plans, devices and applications abound.
All of this, of course, only further fuels the leaps and bounds we’re now seeing in mobile Internet adoption and usage. The arrival of dispassionate, data-driven reports like this Pew contribution are essential to constructive policy conversation that benefit consumers and innovators alike.
The data also clearly illustrates just how deeply mobile connectivity is working its way into our lives, and just how enthusiastically consumers are responding to the profound innovation it is making possible.
As the Federal Communications Commission takes a closer look at wireless, it’s important that it consider how consumers are actually embracing mobile connectivity in their diverse lives. And, it is imperative that the FCC acknowledge that all of this progress we celebrate now has taken place in—and been made possible in no small part by—the current light-touch regulatory framework.
The proof is in the numbers. As the mercury rises in the nation’s capital, it’s important that cooler heads prevail when it comes to the flexibility and dynamism that have truly connected the nation to the opportunities and innovation made possible by the mobile Internet.
This article was orginially published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 07/07/10
The Pew Internet and American Life Project today released a comprehensive and compelling report on Mobile Access in 2010, highlighting American adults' increased adoption and usage of wireless technologies over the past year. Such data is the greatest exemplifier of the consumer-driven nature of the mobile marketplace, as more and more users realize the benefits wireless technologies afford their day-to-day lives. So naturally, we highly encourage you to take a look!
Posted: 04/27/10 by Hiram 'Art' Contreras
Pew released a new study looking at how teens use cell phones. While much of the findings are somewhat obvious, what is interesting is how different groups and constituencies can apply the technology to communicate and connect with teens about various issues, including public safety and crime prevention.
“Fully 72% of all teens — or 88% of teen cell phone users — send text messages, up from 51% in 2006. Among all teens, text messaging has now overtaken every other common form of interaction with their friends.”
The recent Pew study clearly shows why law enforcement should pursue a strategy that encourages teens to use their cell phones to report crime. Since their social activities move them into various venues, more often than not, these young adults are very aware of crime incidents. The fact that teens are comfortable in using their cell phones and there is an assurance that their identity will be kept confidential can help law enforcement and the general public realize a great benefit. After all, it is only through an involved citizenry that government can assure a safe environment for its citizens.
You can read more of the report’s findings here.
Posted: 04/21/10 by Mobile Future Team
A long time ago – 2006, to be exact – barely half of teens who had cell phones were texting. Today almost 90 percent are taping the keys, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center and the University of Michigan.
Texting has now overtaken every other form of interaction, including instant messaging and talking face-to-face. The survey also found that three-quarters of teens own cell phones, up from 45 percent in 2004.
What seems especially interesting is the impact of parents on cell phone use. Many parents limit cell phone usage; the parents of 12 to 13-year old girls were most likely to say they monitor its use. One upside: Teens whose parents put boundaries on their phone use were less likely to report regretting a text they sent or texting while driving.
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Tags: Consumer Benefits, Hispanics, Minority Access, Mobile Broadband, Mobile Phone, Pew Research Center, Smartphone