According to recent Nielsen Research, mobile internet use is set to grow strongly this year with almost half (43%) of Australian mobile phone users owning an internet enabled device, as well as smart phones (iphone, blackberry, HTC, etc.).

Who doesn't like this kinda of convenience, are you kidding me? I booked the movie tickets online and some code was sent to me. When i really 'jumped' the queue in the cinema, the staff just scanned my iphone which displayed the code & it was done! I felt so special & so mobile! lol

There is a rumor (not really rumor, almost definite) that the growth of the intention to purchase an iPhone remains strong, with Apple set to triple its share to 61%. Just under one-third of mobile phone users (29%) access the internet via a mobile phone, and of these mobile internet users 73% have conducted an internet search on their mobile, up from 30% a year ago.

Mobile internet services have seen strong growth in the past year, 59% accessed news/weather in 2009, an 18% increase on the previous year, while 58% checked email (up 20%) and 56% viewed maps /directions (up 24%). Mobile social networking increased 25% and was used by 39% of mobile internet users, with Facebook the most popular with 98% of users, followed by Twitter (20%) and MySpace (17%).

A further 90% of internet enabled phone owners intend to visit Facebook, 18% plan to visit Twitter and 11% plan to visit MySpace.

The research forecasts continued growth in mobile internet use over the next year, with 13% of those yet to use mobile internet anticipating they will conduct a local internet search on their mobile and 11% planning to use internet banking, access maps and directions and purchase tickets. More and more Australians look to connect to the internet via their mobiles in the years ahead. Rising activities conducted by corporations also boost this trend, and vice versa. When they are planning a campaign, the display and other tactics on the mobile will be created at the same time. This has been confirmed by many agencies helping client to promote the brand & connect to their customers.

(Data source: AdNews)