Mobile Internet Devices

A mobile Internet device (MID) is a multimedia-capable device that allows one to access wireless Internet. Examples of MID’s include mobile phones, tablets, laptops, handheld consoles and netbooks. These have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the lowering costs associated with these devices and how easy it is to get connected to a network to get wireless internet. By far the most common MID are smartphones.

Mobile Phones

Nearly all mobile phones released nowadays are mobile Internet devices since they all have capabilities to receive mobile data. Due to this, mobile phones are the most used Mobile Internet Device.

The most common connection type is ‘3G’- third generation of mobile telecommunications technology. 3G connections are classified as those that have a transfer rate exceeding 200 kbit/s, which makes it a fairly fast connection.

In 2008, the 4G was connection was launched which can provide up to 100Mbit/s. The 4G has become more prevalent in recent years with its price going down.

These connections allow fast speed internet to be accessed on your mobile device and in 2014 internet usage on mobile surpassed that of the usage on the PC, marking an important trend of the increase in cell phone usage. This is the biggest shift since the Internet began.

Differing Trends

Demographics are quickly shifting in the use of the internet. Historically PCs have been the only devices from which internet is accessed but, as discussed before, due to declining prices, convenience of use and accessibility, mobile internet devices have overtaken the use of PC’s.

One of the most startling statistics about mobiles is the fact that there are 7 billion mobile subscriptions on earth – roughly one per person, and one third are smartphones, which are MIBs. This is even more amazing when you consider the fact that the first smart phone was released in 1993.

One of the reasons cited for the exponential growth of mobile internet devices is that intense market competition has led to faster development and innovation, as companies vie to out-do one another.

This competition for smartphone supremacy is good for the market as it gives consumer many choices. As of 2014 there are 18, 000 android mobile devices in circulation. Prices of smartphones have declined 25% between 2011 and 2013 worldwide, and a further 19% decline is expected by 2017.

There is no doubt that with increasing number of models available and the falling prices of smartphones that smartphone ownership and usage will increase.