In the modern age, the number of new devices and technologies is greater than ever before and this means that there are few people who aren’t aware of their presence. Yet, whilst we may all be familiar with smartphones and the apps market or the superfast broadband that is coming to our homes, there are plenty of things we don’t know – and here’s a few of them:
Smartphones
The fact smartphone ownership has been increasing in the UK, Ireland and abroad is old news – but what about the fact most of us consider our phones more important than our wallets?
According to a Smartphone Trends Survey undertaken by Mobilecover.ie, 72% of smartphone users said losing their phones was worse than losing their wallets. In response to their fears, one third of owners admitted they downloaded mobile security apps which protected their mobile or helped track it via GPS in the event it was lost or stolen.
For those interested in smartphone ownership figures, the popularity of the devices is something which has been noted in various countries. In the UK, a report on The Evening Standard revealed that smartphone ownership is expected to exceed 75% of the population by 2015 – but this is nothing compared to figures predicted for Ireland.
Irish households have already seen a 40% rise in the number of households with a smartphone in less than a year and in two years time, total ownership is expected to account for 90% of the population with 50% also owning a computer tablet. According to reports, Ireland’s current smartphone ownership statistics put it ahead of the global average by as much as 35% – making it a prime market for developers and sellers.
Superfast broadband
Something which many of us take for granted, the widespread availability of internet connections in the UK and Ireland means it can be easy to overlook. For those who remember the slow speeds of dial-up connections, the availability of broadband services from leading providers such as Sky and Virgin Media is a clear advantage but just how far has the service spread?
According to research, Ireland has 3.2 million internet users with 70% of the population able to go online. For Great Britain, the Office for National Statistics puts internet access at 80% of the population (21 million households) during 2012, with 93% of those going online using a fixed broadband connection to do so. Of this 93%, just shy of one third (30%) used a cable or fibre optic connection.
For those interested in just why broadband is so important, you need only look at Ernst & Young’s globalisation index. This ranks countries based on how globalised they are, with Hong Kong achieving the top position for three years running thanks to what was listed as “high internet penetration, widespread availability of broadband connections and high usage of personal computersâ€.
Ireland managed to hold onto a podium finish in the ranking, at third place, with Singapore bridging the gap in-between them and the leader.
