US now second behind the UK

STATISTICS COMPILED by Bango, the mobile exchange specialist, show that in the last year mobile web usage grew threefold in the US, putting it into second place behind the UK.

Overall, Bango complies its own data on mobile web usage in over 190 countries. Of the total number of accesses, the UK came top with 27 per cent while the US had 21 per cent.

Significantly out of the developing countries, India's share more than doubled to 9 per cent just behind South Africa with 11 per cent.

Both countries will become increasingly bigger players in this area because they lack decent fixed line networks and have large populations willing to embrace mobile phones.

Significantly the handset identified as the most used for mobile web access was a Cdmaone phone - the Sanyo Katana SCP 6600 - which is only available in the US.

Other handsets utilised for mobile browsing include the Sony Ericsson K750i, the Motorola Razr V3 and the Samsung A900. There's no mention of a Nokia handset which is curious.

The UK may well retain its dominance, however. According to Bango's Anil Malhotra, "We see that wherever flat-rate mobile data charges are pervasive in a country, then there's much more web browsing.

"This is certainly true of the US and South Africa and the imminent introduction of flat-rate data charges in the UK will push up mobile web usage in the UK even further."

In the US, the increasing popularity of mobile search as a way of finding new content and services is helping to drive more people to use their phones. µ

L'INQ
Bango