Most Android users don't get on Wi-Fi, rely solely on carrier data
Chances are, if you have a smartphone, you consume a lot of data. But did you know that the way users take data differs hugely on iOS and Android? On iPhones, users tend to use their Wi-Fi connection much more often, while on Android users just rely on their carrier data and shockingly few turn to Wi-Fi networks, according to the latest study by comScore.
Only 32% of US Android users rely on Wi-Fi networks to get on the web, while the overwhelming majority of 68% use solely their carrier’s connection. Shocking as this is, we’re also surprised to see that on iOS, users who only use carrier service amount to nearly a third in the States, or 29%.
Those results are for the US where unlimited data and all-you-can-eat plans are not a rarity. In the UK, in contrast, where people usually have tiered data plans, the situation is different and consumers often turn to Wi-Fi networks to fit into their carrier data limits. But generally, the trend for Android users to use less Wi-Fi remains.
"In the U.K., the scarcity of unlimited data plans and higher incidence of smartphone pre-paid contracts with a pay-as-you-go data model likely contributes to data offloading among users wanting to economize their mobile usage," comScore analyst Serge Matta explained.
Also, some carriers like AT&T offer a huge hotspot network, so users are encouraged to get on Wi-Fi more often. And, as we know, there are most iPhones on AT&T, so this also partly explains the trend. What do you think is the reason Android users are less likely to turn to Wi-Fi networks?
source: comScore
Chart: Mobile and Wi-Fi Internet Connection Activity Across iOS and Android Smartphone Platforms in the U.S. and U.K. (Feb-2012)Description: A U.S. analysis of Wi-Fi and mobile Internet usage across unique smartphones on the iOS and Android platforms reveals that 71 percent of all unique iPhones used both mobile and Wi-Fi networks to connect to the Internet, while only 32 percent of unique Android mobile phones used both types of connections. A further analysis of this pattern of behavior in the U.K. shows consistent results, as 87 percent of unique iPhones used both mobile and Wi-Fi networks for web access compared to a lower 57 percent of Android phones. Source: comScore Device Essentials, February 2012Tags: 3G, Wi-FiAuthor: comScorecharts powered by iCharts
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