Mobile internet access 'no longer expensive'

30th November 2007

The number of people accessing the internet via their mobile phones is increasing, claims Informa.

The telecoms and media markets advisory service explained that the introduction of flat-rate data pricing by UK operators will make people more willing to explore the internet options available to them.

According to Dan Winterbottom, principal analyst with the firm, people have been put off using wireless data access on their mobiles because of confusing and seemingly-expensive prices.

"If you can envisage the money ticking away, you're less likely to explore what the mobile handset can do beyond just the hardware you've got in your hand," he explained.

Another factor that previously deterred consumers from using web services on their phone was usability, he continued, adding that more practical and interesting services are becoming available.

Ofcom reported earlier this year that a third of all UK adults claim to own an internet-enabled phone and half of those had used it to access the web.