Research commissioned by Rogers Communications and conducted by Harris-Decima found that users of mobile devices are loathe to give them up – 28% of Canadians surveyed would be willing to skip their morning coffee in exchange for anytime, anywhere internet – and nearly half of Canadians believe mobile communication will replace most physical interactions.
Harris/Decima surveyed 1,009 Canadian smartphone or tablet users between November 21 and December 2, 2013. The researchers said Canadians are becoming a “Device Generation.” The majority (52%) own a smartphone and they’re not letting go, spending an average of 70 per cent of the day with their phone within reaching distance.
Nearly half of respondents (41%) expect to tap with a mobile payment app in 2014, and over half (61%) of respondents expect to throw out their physical wallets by 2019 to be replaced with mobile wallets that include credit and debit cards, and personal ID.
Other findings include:
- The majority of Canadians (64%) believe they will eventually purchase products directly from live programming.
- Half believe they will spend more money shopping online than in physical stores in the next 5 years.
- Forty-two percent think apps will be able to tell a knock-off design from the real thing.
Social media on smartphones reached new heights this year, with a quarter (25%) of Canadians admitting to Tweeting or Facebooking someone while in the same room; over half (52%) of Gen Y tapped into this trend.
“Enhanced networks are leading to a rise in internet usage in Canada, creating “Generation D” – a group that lives and breathes life through mobile devices and that shares an optimistic view of what’s next,” said Raj Doshi, senior vice-president, products, Rogers Communications. “Over the next few years, technology will continue to shift into high gear, offering consumers completely personalized connected experiences anytime, anywhere.”
A slide show of the findings is available, and an infographic is available on Rogers.com.
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