Rising dependence on mobile phones fades out use of PCs
The mobile phone has taken over the use of PCs and Kenyans have not been left behind in driving demand for better applications and more advanced phones. Photo/FILE
Kenyans are using their mobile handsets more to access social networks, source for music and in transferring money; moving away from the traditional Personal Computers (PCs), a report released on Wednesday by global market research firm TNS has shown.
The report, Mobile Life 2011 revealed a significant level of growth in mobile literacy in Kenya as indicated by the steady growth of the mobile phone use as the primary medium of communication by 86per cent of those interviewed, compared to 14per cent who use PCs.
Kenyans rely heavily on their mobile phones to access financial services due to the convenience and ease the mobile phone offers.
“48 per cent of Kenyans believe mobile finance can replace banks ,” Melissa Baker, CEO TNS RMS East Africa.
TNS RMS, a subsidiary of the largest global market research firm TNS, announced the results of a study into Kenyan mobile phone use and behaviour, which is part of the Global Telecoms Insight (GTI).
The study involved 34,000 mobile phone users across 43 countries.
The survey also found that Kenyans are tending towards purchasing mobile phones that support applications, with 81per cent using the apps for social networking and 86per cent for music applications.
And the mobile market is still aflood with counterfeit mobile phone products with Nokia being the most affected brand as it dominates the Kenyan market with 63per cent handset share.
However China-made phones are also taking up a large portion of the market especially in Uganda.
Despite having higher GDP per capita, Kenyans expect to pay less to replace their phones as compared to Tanzanians.
However, they also replace their handsets more quickly and do more with them.
In summary, in Kenya, upgrades happen quicker and although the price point is lower, phones have better capabilities (higher smartphone penetration).
Insatiable consumers continue to drive market growth for advanced mobile technologies, with video calls, live video and video downloads the next critical developments.
Device brand is key, but handset manufacturers are losing out as content brands and partnerships make rapid gains in importance when consumers make purchasing decisions
Apple and Google’s ability to deliver more effective rich media experiences to consumers is translating to victory in the platform wars.
The TNS mobile Life study divided emerging markets countries into two tiers namely Tier one and two based on GDP.
Tier one emerging markets are Saudi Arabia, UAE, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Chile, Morocco.
Tier two emerging markets are India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Nigeria, Kenya, Philippines, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Guatemala & Costa Rica, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda.
More than two million Kenyans are on Facebook, an indication that the popular social networking website is slowly edging out the e-mail as the preferred mode of electronic communication.
An earlier survey found that a quarter of Kenyans who are online do not even have an e-mail address, a significant change from five years ago, when 89 per cent of all Internet users in the country had e-mail address.
