70% Indians feel completely lost without their smartphone: Report

Key highlights:

• India is on the path to become a mobile first nation
• Enabled Indians to overcome geographical barriers and socio-economic status
• A majority 76% said it provided personal security

India is on the path to become a mobile first nation. Affordable smartphones have enabled Indians everywhere to rise beyond their circumstances and overcome economic inequalities, according to a study by Qualcomm and CyberMedia Research (CMR).

It said that the mobile phone has emerged as the single most critical device that has enabled Indians to overcome geographical barriers and socio-economic status and to embrace new economic realities.

A whole new generation of Indians, across all demographics, have emerged that have not used a desktop or a laptop, but rather have leapfrogged to the digital world by embracing mobile technologies, especially smartphones.

While the feature phone has remained a communication tool, with limited functionalities for playing games and listening to music, the smartphone has emerged as an aspirational tool that replaces the functions of many other devices – whether it is a music player, a camera, or even a payment terminal.

“An overwhelming majority of those surveyed, do not possess a desktop, laptop, or a tablet. For them, their smartphone is the primary, and only, platform to the digital world. While the survey findings indicate the myriad contexts in which mobile phones have enabled India, I believe the most encouraging and positive takeaway is the sense of personal security and independence gained by women,” said Prabhu Ram, Head – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR.

Smartphones have led to rising economic freedom and gender equality as a majority 76% said it provided personal security, 66% provided enhanced quality of life, 63% said personal independence and 54% improvement in economic condition for the better.

Among women a large number of respondents said it provided personal independence and personal security.

The report also said that 75% of Indian consumers have enhanced knowledge of the world due to smartphones and 63% are able to find information swiftly.

The study also found that within 30 minutes of waking up, 69% of Indians reach for their smartphone.

On an average, 40% of the consumers spend 2-6 hours of their time online. The maximum usage is during working hours (42%) and at night (38%).

Moreover, 7 out of 10 Indians felt completely lost without their smartphone.

“The smartphone market in India is growing at an exceptional pace and the opportunities therein are limitless. Adding impetus to the growth is affordability of data services, thus enabling Indians to gain access to many services including various schemes and services offered by the Government of India. The smartphone enables consumers in India to not just communicate, but rather to go online,and perform many key functions in their lives – whether it is learning new information, connecting to friends, making and accepting payments, navigating through traffic, accessing government services, finding and applying for jobs and many more,” said Larry Paulson, vice president and president of Qualcomm India.

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