Seven per cent of American adults say that they or someone in their household currently use a mobile phone to access the Internet, with four percent using PDAs or handheld PCs such as Palm Pilots and Handsprings, according to a study released recently by Taylor Nelson Sofres Intersearch.
Wireless Web device owners tend to be young, affluent males between 18 and 34 years of age, living in a household with income of $US100,000 or more. Their profile reflects the early Internet adopters who were seen five years ago when the Internet was still in its fledgling stages. Eleven per cent of all adults surveyed said they or someone in their household plan to buy a wireless Web device to access the Internet this year.
The research showed clearly that the appeal of wireless Web products is becoming more widespread, TNS analysts said. While the primary market will continue to attract 18-to-34 year olds, the technology is quickly gaining popularity with the 35 to 44 year old population.
Most wireless Web users (83 per cent) say they access the Internet for personal use, and close to half (49 per cent) do so for work. Because of the young average age of the users, use for school purposes is also substantial (30 per cent).