Posts Tagged ‘Apple’
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
 Building and marketing an app is becoming increasingly complex and will demand a systematic fact-based approach to handle market turbulences in the coming years.
Over the last few years, there has been something of a ‘developers gold rush’ as almost every software developer on the planet has tried to leap into the apps market looking to make a fortune off the next smash hit like Angry Birds.
 Angry Birds has both free and paid versions of its popular game. The reality is that only a very small percentage of developers create multi-million dollar smash hit apps.
With over 1.5 billion people regularly downloading mobile apps, users have downloaded more than 46 billion apps on their smartphones.
The fast-growing apps market generated revenues of $12 billion in 2012, and that figure is set to grow to $20.4 billion in 2013. Annually, revenues are growing at 35% in Europe, 50% inAsia and 30% in North America.
Learn where the money is coming from and how it will be generated in a new report published by Portio Research, “Strategies for Creating Best-In-Class Mobile Apps“
Smartphone App Market Monitor
Volume 9 Historical Data Package
 While Apple’s market share of app downloads constantly fell from 81% in 2008 to 39% at the end of 2012, Android’s app downloads increased year over year reaching 42% at the end of 2012.
Both platforms now combine 82% of all app downloads. Will this duopoly last for the next years or will the market see another major change in the market structure as witnessed 5 years ago when the dominance of Symbian started to fade away?
The most likely scenario is that the duopoly will give way to a more heterogeneous mobile operating system landscape. There is evidence that already in 2013 the market will enter a new phase with more relevant mobile app platforms which would be the beginning of the end of the duopoly.
Compared to the world today, where most of the app publishers and developers are concentrating on iOS and Android, the need for adding at least Windows Phone and BlackBerry to the “served platform list” will increase over the next 2 years. If companies want to reach out to the community of early adopters they would even have to include new OS platforms like Ubuntu or Jolla to the list.
Adding HTML5 makes 7 platforms to watch and/or maintain. That is good news for the app development industry and multi-platform tool vendors but starts to become a real management task for companies trying to reach their customers with the help of mobile apps.
By comparing and evaluating different sources, the “Smartphone App Market Monitor” seeks to provide the most comprehensive picture of the app market available. the market monitor is designed to support internal discussions and business decisions, content is presented as much as possible in graphs and tables to make a key tool for any app publisher, app developer, app store and platform owner.
More information about this report and a free sample are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/r2g254556-smartphone-app-market-monitor-vol-7.html
Tags: Android, Apple, Best Practices, Blackberry, downloads, mobile apps, reports, Windows phone
Posted in IT, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports, Telecommunications | No Comments »
Friday, April 12th, 2013
 The convenience and mobility benefits afforded by tablet computers are showing no signs of slowing interest after record unit shipments and revenues were reported by device vendors in 2012.
In 2013, approximately 150 million tablets (up 38% year-over-year) are forecasted to ship globally worth an estimated $64 billion (up 28% from 2012) in potential end-user revenues, according to market intelligence firm ABI Research.
Apple shipped 60 percent of total
So far, Apple has reigned since the introduction of its iPad in 2010, though Samsung and others continue to erode its early success.
About 60% of last year’s tablet shipments used Apple’s iOS operating system software while 37% were based on Google’s Android OS (or development forks of Android, such as found on Amazon’s Kindle Fire slates).
The remaining 3% OS share consisted of Windows (Windows 7, 8, or RT), BlackBerry Tablet OS, and unidentified OS implementations.
Tide turning toward Android
 “The tide is definitely turning toward Android-based tablets, though Apple will not slouch as it feels the competition approaching,” says mobile devices senior practice director Jeff Orr.
“The iPad mini was a timely introduction in 2012, though ABI Research remains cautious about the bottom line impact this is having for Apple.
Here at the TechJournal, we think the late Steve Jobs was wrong when he said tablets needed those 10-inch screens. The 7-inch models are much handier and with the exception of all those regular sized iPad sales, we think they’ll dominate the market.
Personally, while we enjoy our Kindle Fire, we are waiting to see what Google offers in its upcoming new Nexus 7 tablet release expected in July. We suspect Apple will release an updated iPad mini in the not too distant future as well.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: what will make tablets even more useful, salable and dominant is better voice control – something Apple’s Siri and the dictation features on the Nexus are approaching. Better accuracy and true dictation ability are crucial to easy control of these devices without a keyboard.
The first quarter of 2013 should be the first time where production was able to meet market demand and a better sense of how much 9.7” iPad volume has switched to the smaller, lower-cost mini will be understood.”
Samsung could challenge Apple
 iPad 4 The next opportunity is for a vendor challenger to break away from the pack and move closer to Apple. Most would consider Samsung the likely pursuer, though the company was mired in legal proceedings during much of 2012.
The success Samsung has seen during the past year with smartphones, Android OS, and the Galaxy Note II is expected to migrate across to tablets in 2013.
“A well-executed Samsung tablet strategy could double the company’s market share this year,” adds Orr.
Unfortunately, there are few “fast followers” capable of emulating the ownership of technology that Samsung has, suggesting that more innovation is necessary within the Android OS that pulls tablet OEMs closer to Apple.
These “Media Tablets and eReaders” Market Data findings are part of ABI Research’s Media Tablets, Ultrabooks and eReaders Research Service (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/service/media-tablets-netbooks-ereaders/).
Tags: 2013, ABIresearch, Android, Apple, iOS, Kindle Fire, Samsung, tablet sales
Posted in Apple, Digital Devices, Google, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Friday, March 22nd, 2013
Apple and HP earned the top spots in the computer sector of the 2013 Temkin Experience Ratings. At the other end of the spectrum, Sony and Lenovo were the lowest-rated computer makers.
“Apple continues to be the customer experience leader in computers, but HP has narrowed the gap,” states Bruce Temkin , managing partner of Temkin Group.
The Temkin Experience Ratings evaluates three areas of customer experience: functional (can customers do what they want to do), accessible (how easy it is to work with the company), and emotional (how consumers feel about their interactions).
The ratings include 10 computer makers: Acer, Apple, Compaq, Dell, eMachines, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo,Sony, and Toshiba.
Here are some additional highlights from the ratings:
- The computer industry has been steadily improving over the last three years, from an average Temkin Experience Rating of 54% in 2011 to 60% this year.
- Apple is the highest-ranked computer maker for the third straight year, ranked #134 across all industries. It’s rating of 64%, is one percentage point below its 2012 rating. It also led the industry in the accessible and emotional components of the ratings.
- HP is in second place in the industry with a rating of 62% and leads in the functional component. The company’s ratings increased three percentage points since last year, narrowing the gap with Apple.
- Dell showed the largest improvement over 2012, with an increase of six percentage points.
- The lowest-ranked computer makers are Sony and Lenovo, with ratings of 54%. Both of those firms had the largest declines in the industry.
- Sony is the lowest rated in functional and accessible components and Lenovo is the lowest rated in the emotionalcomponent.
- The average rating for computer makers places the sector tied for 13th out of 19 industries.
The 2013 Temkin Experience Ratings along with other ratings can be accessed at the Temkin Ratings website,www.TemkinRatings.com.
Tags: Apple, computers, experience ratings, HP, Lenovo, Sony, Temkin Group
Posted in Digital Devices, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
 Are smartphone makers losing billions of dollars a year due to poor revenue management?
According to Gartner, Inc., a leading IT research and advisory company, given that chargeback credits can exceed millions of dollars per month, wholesale distributors can severely undermine profitability through inaccurate and inefficient processes, with revenue leakage accounting for as much as 1-2 percent of gross revenue.
Manufacturers also face similar revenue leakage exposure and although the percentage might seem small, for technology giants such as Apple and Samsung, this could mean billions of dollars in lost revenue each quarter.
Why does this matter to anyone but a manufacturer? It’s pretty basic: if the manufacturer’s costs are higher, so is the price consumers will have to pay for devices.
Here’s an infographic detailing the problem from Revitas, which, not surprisingly, sells solutions for contracts, pricing, and compliance.
Tags: Apple, deals, incentives, leakage, lost revenue, manufacturers, rebates, Samsung, smartphones
Posted in Apple, infographic, Money, smartphones | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
 Researchers say they can boost the speed of public WiFi networks by up to 700 percent. Wi-Fi remains the leading data network for on-the-go data consumption in the five leading Arbitron Mobile-based smartphone panels.
People on Apple iOS devices use the most data and the most WiFi.
Even as carriers aggressively promote their newest generation of cellular data networking, the Arbitron smartphone panelists in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and China, still consume nearly two thirds of their mobile data through public and private Wi-Fi networks.
Wi-Fi Data Consumption by Arbitron Mobile-based Smartphone Panelists
Sorted by average mobile data consumption per month (cellular +Wi-Fi) |
|
|
% via Wi-Fi |
Cell + Wi-Fi Data
MB/User/Month |
% of panelists
> 1,000 MB/month |
| U.S. |
61% |
1,496 |
49% |
| U.K. |
69% |
1,181 |
37% |
| Germany |
63% |
861 |
37% |
| France |
53% |
730 |
24% |
| China* |
70% |
719 |
25% |
|
Source: Arbitron Mobile Index: Executive Summary Reports, 4th quarter 2012
* Operated by iResearch using Arbitron Mobile technology |
 The iPhone 5 The United States and United Kingdom have the heaviest users of mobile data in their Arbitron smartphone panels. A substantial share of the data consumption—61 and 69 percent respectively—relies on Wi-Fi networks.
China and France have the lightest users of mobile data in their Arbitron Mobile-based smartphone panels, both in terms of the average monthly data consumed and the share of the panel who consume more the 1,000 MB a month.
However, their respective share of Wi-Fi networks as a data source stands at a polar opposite.
China panelists consume the largest share—70 percent—on Wi-Fi networks. French panelists, consume the smallest share—53 percent—of mobile data on Wi-Fi.
In all five of the Arbitron Mobile panels, Apple iOS users are heaviest consumers of mobile data and are the heaviest users of Wi-Fi for their on-the-go data needs.
Data Consumption by Leading Mobile Operating Systems
Sorted by average mobile data consumption per month (cellular +Wi-Fi) on iOS |
|
|
Apple iOS |
Android |
|
MB/User/Month |
% via Wi-Fi |
MB/User/Month |
% via Wi-Fi |
| U.S. |
2,512 |
66% |
821 |
57% |
| U.K. |
2,216 |
80% |
740 |
64% |
| China* |
1,636 |
81% |
347 |
65% |
| France |
1,527 |
70% |
635 |
52% |
| Germany |
1,203 |
71% |
566 |
56% |
|
Source: Arbitron Mobile Index — Executive Summary Reports, 4th quarter 2012
* Operated by iResearch using Arbitron Mobile technology |
Apple iOS was the predominant operating system among the heavy data users in these five smartphone panels. Seventy-two percent of iOS users in the U.S. and German panel were in 1,000+ MB/month club; in the U.K., 76 percent, and in China 60 percent. In stark contrast, only 29 percent of the iOS users in the France panel consumed more than 1,000 MB/month in the fourth quarter 2012.
Tags: Apple, Arbitron, data use, mobile data, WiFi
Posted in Apple, Internet/New Media, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports, Telecommunications | No Comments »
Thursday, February 21st, 2013
 Looking at a holistic view of smartphones, tablets, and PCs, one thing is clear – smartphones and tablets are driving mobility growth.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, vendors shipped 367.7 million desktop PCs, portable PCs, tablets, and smartphones – a collective view IDC refers to as “Smart Connected Devices” – the fourth quarter of 2012 (4Q12), up 28.3% from the prior year.
As desktop PCs and portable PCs declined (-4.1% and -3.4%, respectively), the overall smart connected device space continued to surge to just over 1.2 billion shipments cumulatively in 2012.
Tablet shipments see largest growth
Tablet shipments experienced the largest year-over-year growth in 2012, up 78.4% over 2011, while smartphones grew 46.1% but accounted for 60.1% of all smart connected devices shipped throughout the year.
After finishing 2011 second to Apple in the smart connected device market, Samsung arose to the number one position in 2012 with just over 20% share across the four device categories. Samsung shipped 250.0 million PCs, tablets, and smartphones in the past year, up 119.3% from the previous year, driven largely in part by its surge in the smartphone space.
Average tablet selling price declined
While Samsung managed to ship more smartphones and portable PCs than Apple in 2012, Apple led all in tablet shipments, was eighth in portable PC shipments, and fifth overall in desktop PC shipments.
“Smartphones and tablets are growing at a pace that PCs and tablets can’t realistically keep up with because of device prices and to some extent disposability,” explained Ryan Reith, program manager, Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers at IDC.
“The average selling price (ASP) for a tablet declined 15.0% in 2012 to $461, and we expect that trend to continue in 2013. However, smartphone APSs are still lower at $408. We expect smartphones to continue to carry a shorter life cycle than PCs for the years to come based on price, use case, and overall device size.”
Rounding out the top 5 smart connected device vendors in 2012 was Lenovo at number 3 with 6.5% share. Lenovo’s strong point is still in portable PCs where it shipped just over 30 million units in 2012.
Fourth quarter saw Apple resurgence
However, smartphones are a growing space for the Chinese vendor as shipments grew from 3.7 million in 2011 to 23.7 million in 2012. In the fourth position was HP with 4.8% share, however shipments of smart connected devices were down 8.5% year over year primarily for the lack of smartphone and tablet offerings.
And in the fifth position was Dell with 3.2% share, down 12.9% from 2011 as it also struggles with a lack of presence in the smartphone and tablet markets.
“The fourth quarter market share numbers showed a fairly dramatic resurgence for Apple,” said Bob O’Donnell, program vice president, Clients and Displays.
“After falling well behind Samsung early in 2012, Apple came roaring back in final quarter of the year thanks to its latest hits – the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini – and reduced the market share gap to less than a single percentage point. The question moving forward will be whether or not Apple can maintain its hit parade against the juggernaut of Samsung.”
Top 5 Smart Connected Device Vendors, Shipments, and Market Share, Q4 2012
(shipments in millions) |
| Vendor |
|
|
|
4Q12 Unit
Shipments |
|
|
|
4Q12 Market
Share |
|
|
|
4Q11 Unit
Shipments |
|
|
|
4Q11 Market
Share |
|
|
|
Year-over-
year Change |
| 1. Samsung |
|
|
|
77.9 |
|
|
|
|
21.2 |
% |
|
|
|
41.9 |
|
|
|
|
14.6 |
% |
|
|
|
86.0 |
% |
| 2. Apple |
|
|
|
74.8 |
|
|
|
|
20.3 |
% |
|
|
|
57.7 |
|
|
|
|
20.1 |
% |
|
|
|
29.7 |
% |
| 3. Lenovo |
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
|
|
|
6.6 |
% |
|
|
|
16.5 |
|
|
|
|
5.8 |
% |
|
|
|
47.2 |
% |
| 4. HP |
|
|
|
15.1 |
|
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
|
15.1 |
|
|
|
|
5.3 |
% |
|
|
|
-0.2 |
% |
| 5. Sony |
|
|
|
11.1 |
|
|
|
|
3.0 |
% |
|
|
|
9.2 |
|
|
|
|
3.2 |
% |
|
|
|
19.6 |
% |
| Others |
|
|
|
164.5 |
|
|
|
|
44.7 |
% |
|
|
|
146.2 |
|
|
|
|
51.0 |
% |
|
|
|
12.5 |
% |
| Total |
|
|
|
367.7 |
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
286.7 |
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
28.3 |
% |
| Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013. |
|
Top 5 Smart Connected Device Vendors, Shipments, and Market Share, 2012
(shipments in millions) |
| Vendor |
|
|
|
2012 Unit
Shipments |
|
|
|
2012 Market
Share |
|
|
|
2011 Unit
Shipments |
|
|
|
2011 Market
Share |
|
|
Year-over-
year Change |
| 1. Samsung |
|
|
|
250.0 |
|
|
|
|
20.8% |
|
|
|
|
114.0 |
|
|
|
|
12.3% |
|
|
|
119.3% |
|
| 2. Apple |
|
|
|
218.7 |
|
|
|
|
18.2% |
|
|
|
|
151.5 |
|
|
|
|
16.3% |
|
|
|
44.3% |
|
| 3. Lenovo |
|
|
|
78.3 |
|
|
|
|
6.5% |
|
|
|
|
48.5 |
|
|
|
|
5.2% |
|
|
|
61.4% |
|
| 4. HP |
|
|
|
58.2 |
|
|
|
|
4.8% |
|
|
|
|
63.6 |
|
|
|
|
6.8% |
|
|
|
-8.5% |
|
| 5. Dell |
|
|
|
38.8 |
|
|
|
|
3.2% |
|
|
|
|
44.6 |
|
|
|
|
4.8% |
|
|
|
-12.9% |
|
| Others |
|
|
|
557.1 |
|
|
|
|
46.4% |
|
|
|
|
508.1 |
|
|
|
|
54.6% |
|
|
|
9.6% |
|
| Total |
|
|
|
1201.1 |
|
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
930.4 |
|
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
|
|
29.1% |
|
| Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013. |
|
|
| Smart Connected Device Market by Product Category, Shipments, Market Share, 2012
(shipments in millions) |
Product
Category |
|
|
|
2012 Unit
Shipments |
|
|
|
2012 Market
Share |
|
|
|
2011 Unit
Shipments |
|
|
|
2011 Market
Share |
|
|
|
Year-over-
year Change |
| Smartphone |
|
|
|
722.4 |
|
|
|
|
60.1 |
% |
|
|
|
494.5 |
|
|
|
|
53.1 |
% |
|
|
|
46.1 |
% |
| Tablet |
|
|
|
128.3 |
|
|
|
|
10.7 |
% |
|
|
|
72.0 |
|
|
|
|
7.7 |
% |
|
|
|
78.4 |
% |
| Portable PC |
|
|
|
202.0 |
|
|
|
|
16.8 |
% |
|
|
|
209.1 |
|
|
|
|
22.5 |
% |
|
|
|
-3.4 |
% |
| Desktop PC |
|
|
|
148.4 |
|
|
|
|
12.4 |
% |
|
|
|
154.8 |
|
|
|
|
16.6 |
% |
|
|
|
-4.1 |
% |
| Total |
|
|
|
1201.1 |
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
930.4 |
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
29.1 |
% |
| Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013. |
Tags: Apple, HP, IDC, Lenovo, markets, PC, Samsung, smartphones, Sony, tablets
Posted in Digital Devices, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
 Despite initial skepticism toward Google+, the social network is quickly becoming mainstream. It saw a 9,400 percent increase in users in just one year, says the BrightEdge January 2013 Social Share Report. Three of four top global brands now have active profiles on Google+, the report says.
If you use Google+ personally or professionally, you have probably noticed an increasing level of activity and the number of people and brands on the network. It’s much more active than our Facebook page and we have literally thousands of people and brands in our Google+ circles.
It’s much easier to acquire large numbers of followers relevant to your interests on Google+ than on any of the other social networks. Also, a post that garners attention on Google+ will collect many more plus 1s, shares and comments than the same comment on most other networks if our own experience is any guide.
The Social share report tracks social media adoption trends for the BrandZ top 100 global brands including Apple, BMW, RedBull and Samsung. The report also includes insights into how YouTube is performing as a social media network.
Key insights include
· The top 10 brands on Google + account for 4 out of 5 followers
· The Auto Industry accounts for 40% of the top 10 spots for followers on Google
· 20% of brands now have their Google+ pages show up in SERP results
· 87% of top brands now have a YouTube channel
· Google, Red Bull and Samsung lead the way with breakaway numbers of subscribers on YouTube
The full report can be downloaded here http://www.brightedge.com/social-share-january-2013
Tags: Apple, BMW, brand profiles, circles, Google Plus, luxury car makers, Red Bull
Posted in Google, Internet/New Media, social media, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
 Amazon is on a roll. In addition to topping a list of 25 retailers with the best mobile satisfaction ratings during the recent holiday shopping season, it also edged out Apple as America’s most reputable company, according to the 2013 Harris Poll RQ Study which engages over 14,000 members of the general public to measure the reputations of the sixty most visible companies in the country.
And companies can learn from how the leaders gain their stellar reputations.
This is Amazon’s first time earning the top ranking, but the fifth consecutive year with a great reputation score. The Walt Disney Company, Google, and Johnson & Johnson complete the top five. This is Google’s eight consecutive top five appearance, an incredible achievement for a fourteen year old company.
AIG and Goldman Sachs return to the bottom two reputation positions on the list of the most visible companies, joined by Halliburton, American Airlines, and Bank of America. With a full six point increase in RQ score though, Bank of America had the highest year-over-year increase in the 2013 study. Best Buy and Honda experienced the greatest decline in RQ scores, 6.76 and 4.73 points, respectively.
RQ measures six dimensions that comprise reputation and influence consumer behavior.
The dimensions and the 2013 leaders are:
- Social Responsibility – Whole Foods
- Emotional Appeal – Amazon.com
- Financial Performance – Apple
- Products & Services – Amazon.com
- Vision & Leadership – Apple
- Workplace Environment – Google
 Amazon’s reputation strength runs wide and deep as it ranked in the top five in five of the six dimensions of reputation. Amazon had a five point advantage over any other company in the study in the dimension of Emotional Appeal, despite an entirely virtual relationship with the public. Amazon also achieved the top rating in the dimension of Products & Services.
Amazon earned nearly 100 percent positive ratings on all measures related to Trust. More than 50 percent of respondents also recall discussing Amazon with friends and family in the past year, and nearly 100 percent of these conversations were positive.
“Our results show that Amazon has managed to build an intimate relationship with the public without being perceived as intrusive,” adds Fronk. “
Nine of ten would recommend it
And as the company that is so widely known for its personal recommendations, more than nine in ten members of the public would recommend Amazon to friends and family.”
The results for Apple and Google are equally as impressive as those for Amazon and continue a compelling trend that has been developing for the past few years – companies that begin in the technology sector, which is by far and away the highest-rated industry when it comes to reputation, absorb the reputation equity from the industry, then transcend the industry to become a more multi-faceted business.
Companies that are able to do this are perceivedto “Play A Valuable Social Role,” a characteristic, which according to the RQ study, has become a key driver of reputation.
 The Kindle’s eInk technology frees you from LED glare and eye-strain – and you can make the fonts as large as you like. As a longtime Amazon customer, we can understand why it has such a great reputation, despite moves such as encouraging “showrooming,” viewing products in stores to buy later online.
It’s customer service is beyond first rate. We dropped and broke our first Kindle e-reader when it was out of warranty and they still replaced it free, overnight, and we didn’t even have to pay postage. When a large package of books went awry and never showed up, they simply resent the order.
Banking industry shows gains, still low ranked
The banking industry is not so lucky. It showed some encouraging signs in 2013. Positive ratings of the industry are now 25 percent, a more than 50 percent increase from 2012.
Wells Fargo became the first of the four big banking companies in the past four years to move from negative to positive equity in the dimension of Emotional Appeal. Harris’s fourteen years of conducting the RQ study show that a company cannot build or maintain positive reputation without this positive equity. Wells Fargo also received significantly higher marks on attributes related to its people and work environment, and it is possible that these may be the first signs of a bank once again being seen as trusted.
But in our conversations with sources, the banking industry is still most often cited as having abysmal customer service and is viewed as frequently predatory. The continuing mortgage default problem hasn’t helped.
What can companies learn from the 2013 Harris Poll RQ Study?
Companies need to evaluate and understand the increasing importance that playing a valuable social role has on reputation, purchase consideration, advocacy and positive word of mouth. This is about a business having a purpose, not just checking the box on social responsibility or sustainability.
Additionally, companies need to adapt to a major trend in consumer behavior. More than 60 percent of consumers now “pro-actively try to learn more about how a company conducts itself” before they are willing to consider that company’s products or services. This group, which Harris calls Seekers:
- Proactively engage in conversations with others about what they find out about a company;
- In 60 percent of cases, decide NOT to do business with a company because of something they learn about that company; and
- Actively try to influence friends and family on whether to do business or not with a company based upon what they have learned about that company’s conduct.
Tags: Amazon, Apple, Google, Harris Poll, reputation, retailing, Whole Foods
Posted in Amazon, Apple, Best Practices, Google, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
 Amazon extended its ecommerce domination into the mobile arena during the recent holiday shopping season, according to the ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index: Holiday Retail Edition, released today by customer experience analytics firm ForeSee.
In a survey of more than 6,200 consumers collected during the peak holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the retail juggernaut scored highest among 25 of the top mobile commerce companies. The report shows that consumer satisfaction with the mobile retail experience is improving, as the Index climbs two points since last holiday season to 78 on a 100-point scale.
Amazon tops the list at 85, with Apple (83), and QVC (83) close behind. Rounding out the top five are NewEgg (80) and Victoria’s Secret (80). The retailers with the biggest improvements over time include Target (+5), Victoria’s Secret (+5), and Barnes & Noble (+4).
Individual satisfaction scores for the top 25 mobile retailers measured are listed below.
| Mobile Experience |
Satisfaction |
| Aggregate Satisfaction for Top 25 Mobile Retailers |
78 |
| Amazon.com |
85 |
| Apple |
83 |
| QVC |
83 |
| NewEgg |
80 |
| Victoria’s Secret |
80 |
| Barnes & Noble |
79 |
| Footlocker |
79 |
| HSN |
79 |
| Costco |
78 |
| Hewlett Packard |
78 |
| Kohl’s |
78 |
| SportsmansGuide.com |
78 |
| Best Buy |
77 |
| Buy.com |
77 |
| J.C. Penney |
77 |
| Macy’s |
77 |
| One King’s Lane |
77 |
| Staples |
77 |
| Target |
77 |
| Walmart |
75 |
| Gilt.com |
74 |
| Overstock |
74 |
| RueLaLa |
74 |
| Sears |
74 |
| Shop NBC |
73 |
 PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1zGew)
“The mobile platform is maturing much faster than the PC platform. We see it in the rate of consumer adoption, and fortunately we are seeing it in how well the top retailers are adapting to multichannel consumers who are embracing yet another powerful tool,” said Larry Freed , president and CEO of ForeSee.
“But retailers shouldn’t get too comfortable because change is just about the only thing you can count on. Consumers expect retailers to provide a consistent and seamless experience, regardless of the channel.”
Here’s an infographic detailing the findings:
Tags: Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Footlocker, ForeSee, HSN, mobile satisfaction, Newegg, QVC, top 25 retailers, Victoria's Secret
Posted in Ecommerce, infographic, Internet/New Media, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013
 Apple iPads A large majority of Enterprises are either supporting iPhones and iPads at work now or plan to, says InformationWeek Reports. And, while they give them high marks for user satisfaction, they nevertheless have gripes: they’re too expensive and hard to upgrade.
Findings:
- 85% of decision-makers report they support iPhones, with an additional 4% planning to do so; 90% currently or plan to support iPads.
- 87% of those supporting or planning to support Apple smartphones or tablets give the devices high marks for end-user satisfaction, but 45% say the upgradability is poor or very poor.
- 64% of decision-makers report having no Apple servers in their organizations.
- 45% say their top gripe with Apple products is the devices are too expensive for the value provided.
- 23% of decision-makers rate Apple’s enterprise security and device management excellent or good; 31% say it’s poor or unacceptable.
The report author, Richard Hoffman , is owner of Geomancy Consulting, an InformationWeek contributor and former technology editor for Network Computing.
Tags: Apple, Enterprise use, gripes, iOS, iPad, iPhone
Posted in Apple, Digital Devices, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Thursday, January 31st, 2013
 The global installed base of smartphones will total 1.4 billion by the end of 2013, according to the latest forecasts from ABI Research. Of this base, 57% will run on Android and 21% on iOS.
Meanwhile, there will be 268 million tablets in active use, with 62% of them built on iOS and 28% on Android.
The annual growth rate against 2012 will be 44% for smartphones and 125% for tablets. Despite of Apple’s and Google’s strong hold of the market, ABI Research anticipates that the future won’t be quite as duopolistic as it may seem now.
A relative success for Microsoft and Blackberry?
Outside of the leading two operating systems, how will the world look for the two main challengers, Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10?
Senior analyst Aapo Markkanen comments, “2013 should be seen as relative success for both Microsoft and BlackBerry.
For the end of the year, we expect there to be 45 million Windows Phone handsets in use, with BlackBerry 10 holding an installed base of close to 20 million. Microsoft will also have 5.5 million Windows-powered tablets to show for it.”
Importantly, the figures refer to actively used devices, which is what app developers – with certain caveats in mind – should generally treat as an addressable market for their releases.
As Markkanen points out, “The greatest fear for both Microsoft and BlackBerry is that the initial sales of their smartphones will disappoint and thereby kill off the developer interest, which then would effectively close the window of opportunity on further sales success. Our view is that the installed bases of this scale would be large enough to keep these two in the game. It will definitely also help that both firms have actively kept the developers’ interest in mind while designing and rolling out their platforms.”
Tags: ABI Research, Android, Apple, Blackberry, developers, Google, installed base, iOS, smartphones, Windows phone
Posted in Mobile, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Monday, January 21st, 2013
 Do you know when the first network virus, “Creeper” was created? When the first spam message was sent? Who used the first emoticon?
While the Web’s infrastructure stretches back to the 1970s, many of the features we rely on today are a decade or less old.Even those of us who saw the Internet evolve step by step sometimes feel as if instant messaging, social media, and shopping online are just part of the fabric of modern life and forget its brief history.
Here’s an infographic from AVG.com detailing the history of the Internet.
Tags: Apple, Arpanet, Creeper, emoticons, Google, history of the Internet, infographic, Internet Explorer, iPad, Michelangelo virus, Stuxnet, Tim Lee
Posted in infographic, Internet/New Media | No Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2013
Capitalizing on current news and trends is one of the most successful marketing campaign tactics for any business – if done right. In 2012 a number of companies successfully capitalized on news stories by leveraging social media, while others did things that were a little bit more unconventional.
From Samsung to JetBlue, Hubspot has highlighted 10 companies whose campaigns were remarkable and unforgettable – they are definitely worth a second look!
Read full story here - http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33931/10-of-the-Most-Memorable-Marketing-Campaigns-of-2012.aspx
Holiday shopping peaked early
Consumers skewed their consumer electronics shopping to the first few weeks of the holiday season, according to global information company The NPD Group.
U.S. consumer electronics sales* were strongest at the beginning of the holiday season and declined through the remainder of the five week holiday period (November 18 – December 22, 2012) according to NPD’s Weekly Tracking Service**.
Forty-six percent of sales took place in the first two weeks, the highest share in the past four years, while the last three weeks of sales accounted for 54 percent of sales. Sales for the first two weeks declined 3.7 percent over 2011 while the last three weeks fell more than 11 percent.
Sales worsened late for third straight year
“For the third consecutive year sales trends worsened in the later part of the holiday season,” said Stephen Baker, vice president, industry analysis at NPD.
“The hyped-up promotion of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and now Thanksgiving Day has proven remarkably effective in moving sales into the early part of the holiday season. Trends like online shopping and self-gifting have intensified the focus on the more event -driven early part of the holiday season.”
Most categories struggled, as they have done all year but sales of notebook computers and flat-panel TVs both exceeded $2 billion in total dollars sales, while no other single segment accounted for over $1 billion in revenue.
Windows 8 was no help
 Windows 8, which is not faring as well as XP did, failed to boost holiday sales. Windows notebook holiday sales fell 11 percent.
“Consumer electronics remain trapped in a weak product cycle,” said Baker. “Despite undeniable success in segments like soundbars, headphones with microphones, interchangeable lens cameras, cellular accessories and tablets, the inability of the CE market to find substantial new pockets of revenue looms menacingly over the industry’s future.”
*Consumer electronics excludes: Amazon Kindle products, iPad, Surface, mobile phones, and video games.
App store tops 40 billion downloads
Apple iPads Apple today announced that customers have downloaded over 40 billion apps*, with nearly 20 billion in 2012 alone. The App Store has over 500 million active accounts and had a record-breaking December with over two billion downloads during the month.
Apple’s developer community has created over 775,000 apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users worldwide, and developers have been paid over seven billion dollars by Apple.
Tags: 2012, App store, Apple, ecommerce, holiday spending, JetBlue, memorable marketing campaigns, Samsung
Posted in Digital Devices, Ecommerce, Internet/New Media, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Monday, November 26th, 2012
 Although Black Friday usually conjures up images of people waiting in long lines at retail stores, this year it was also the heaviest online spending day to date, according to digital measurement service comScore.
In store sale, in comparison, were down as many shoppers avoided those lines to do their gift-hunting online.
For the holiday season-to-date, $13.7 billion has been spent online, marking a 16-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year.
Black Friday (November 23) saw $1.042 billion in online sales, making it the heaviest online spending day to date in 2012 and representing a 26-percent increase versus Black Friday 2011.
Thanksgiving Day (November 22), while traditionally a lighter day for online holiday spending, achieved a strong 32-percent increase to $633 million.
“Despite the frenzy of media coverage surrounding the importance of Black Friday in the brick-and-mortar world, we continue to see this shopping day become more and more prominent in the e-commerce channel – particularly among those who prefer to avoid crowds at the stores,” said comScore chairman, Gian Fulgoni.
“With Black Friday online sales up 26 percent and surpassing $1 billion for the first time, coupled with early reports indicating that Black Friday sales in retail stores were down 1.8 percent, we can now confidently call it a multi-channelmarketing phenomenon.”
Fulgoni added that Thanksgiving Day itself, usually a lighter online shopping day, is gaining steam as well.
Today, Cyber Monday, is expected to be the heaviest shopping day of the season with sales approaching $1.5 billion or more.
ComScore says Amazon led the online sales parade so far this year, followed by Walmart, Best Buy, Target and Apple.
We think this is a bit of a surprise: digital content and subscriptions were the top-growing online retail product category, up 29 percent from a year ago. The proliferation of smartphones, tablets and e-readers is driving the demand for digital books, audio & visual content, says comScore.
Toy are also doing well, gaining 27 percent, followed by Consumer Packaged Goods (up 23 percent), Video Game Consoles & Accessories (up 18 percent) and Consumer Electronics (up 18 percent).
Tags: 2012, Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Black Friday, comScore, cyber Monday, online sales, Target, Thanksgiving Day
Posted in Amazon, Apple, Ecommerce, Mobile, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
Mobile learning is a hot area for Apple iOS apps, from brain exercises to math, science, geography, languages, and productivity, among other areas.
But with hundreds of thousands of apps in the Apple Store, finding the best can be a challenge.
That’s why OnlineUniversities.com created this infographic of the best iOS apps for learning:
From: OnlineUniversities.com
Tags: Apple, best apps for learning, infographic, iOS, mobile
Posted in Apple, Education, infographic, IT, Mobile | No Comments »
Monday, October 1st, 2012
The iPhone 5 The iPhone 5 is praised for speed, call clarity and battery life on Viewpoints a consumer reviews and product rankings website. Some Apple fans even gush over the troubled Apple Maps feature some say was a $30 billion mistake.
Based on consumer sentiment, the iPhone 5 32GB ($299) is rated 94/100, ten points higher than the average smartphone rating.
Speed
Besides a larger screen, the most significant changes from the iPhone 4S are a faster processor and the ability to use advanced cellular networks, 4G LTE.
“I will say the web browsing does seem faster…the speed increase is noticeable.”–Matt
Battery life
Nearly everyone reports the iPhone 5 battery is stronger compared to older iPhones.
“With Wi-Fi turned on, playing games, accessing the web and on a hour-long conference call, the battery never faltered. After 24 hrs and heavy use, more than 60% power still available.” –TerryNakagawa
“…5am until midnight … can’t complain about that.” –Kyrshen
Maps
Apple replaced Google Maps with its own program, which lacks functionality, like display of public transportation, an “epic fail” according to one reviewer. The maps do offer turn-by-turn directions, as well as restaurants as landmarks. Most Viewpoints reviewers aren’t inconvenienced and like the look:
“The new Apple Maps are just stunning, the 3D angle and flying sensation are terrific.”–
GibOlander
“Sure, there’s hubbub around Apple Maps. But think of it this way… the iPhone 5 has more computing power than NASA did when they sent a man to the moon in 1969. The phone is spectacular.” –rma288
Personally, here at the TechJournal, we’re amazed at how Apple fans even gush over features for which the company had to apologize, such Apple Maps. The iPhone 5 may have more processing power than when NASA sent a man to the moon, but just about every electronic device with a silicon brain on the market does.
“I can’t see myself EVER going back to Android!…Gorgeous. Sleek. Modern” –Jnystul
Admittedly, Android has its problems: we recently downloaded a chess board app that is supposed to let you use it to follow a game in a book. We even paid five bucks for it and it doesn’t work. We’ve read that many apps don’t work properly or have fewer features on Android. The folks at Appcelerator tell us that one reason for that is that there are so many flavors of Android.
Viewpoints General Manager Denise Chudy says, “Based on early reviews, people are obviously passionate about the iPhone 5. It’s our hope that those insights help others decide if the iPhone 5 is the right choice for their needs and budget.”
Tags: Android, Apple, Apple Maps epic fail, battery life, call clarity, iPhone 5 reviews, speed, Viewpoint
Posted in Apple, Reviewed, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012
By Allan Maurer
 UPDATEd – Mobile developers think that a mobile-first social startup could disrupt Facebook and grab market share from the current top dog in the social media pack. So says Appcelerator’s Q3 2012 mobile developer report, which is chock full of surprises.
In the largest mobile developer survey ever conducted, Appcelerator and the IDC surveyed 5,526 Appcelerator Tianium developers on their feelings about current debates in mobile, social and the cloud and about their development priorities.
The report warns that history shows major technology shifts can transform businesses and industries. It happened with the introduction of the web and “mobile will be not exception.”
Mobile has the power to disrupt entire industries
Mobile has the power to reshape entire industries and changes can be swift. But it is not enough to just port elements of an existing business model over to mobile, the report says.
And, if a billion dollar company with more than three-quarters of a billion users like Facebook could be disrupted, “Other mature, stagnant companies should take note,” says Lyla McInerney, vice president of marketing at Appcelerator.
McInerney tells the TechJournal, Developers believe someone can take a mobile first approach and disrupt any industry. It’s a cautionary note, but also a real opportunity.”
She points out that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted recently that Facebook is not doing as well as it wants to in mobile and has to do better, saying building its mobile on HTML 5 was a mistake.
The Appcelerator report notes that developers expressed dissatisfaction with nearly every aspect of HTML 5.
“Facebook didn’t think about how to deliver on mobile,” says McInerney. “They just carried it over. As Zuckerberg said, ‘Good enough is not good enough.’ Companies need to think about how to do mobile best.”
 Jonathan Rende. Build mobile differently
Jonathan Rende, vice president of products at Appcelerator, adds, “This underscores the debate about whether mobile is an extension of the web or something completely different.”
It needs to be built completely differently, Rende suggests. Otherwise, “A startup can come in, take a fresh look at your business and take market share away from you.”
Lots of businesses and industries heard that about the web itself more than a decade ago, now, and the ones that ignored it paid a high price.
The speed at which mobile is happening, though, “Is much faster” with mobile, Rende says.
Developers not as interested in Android
Yet another surprise in the report is that developers have lost some interest in developing for Google’s Android mobile operating system. Considering the increasing number of devices running Android, we thought that was odd.
Rende explains that much of the problems developers have with Android is due to “fragmentation. Developers have to deal with all the different flavors of Android rather than build it once and have it run on various platforms. If you implement your app for one particular device, there is no guarantee that it work the same way on another device.”
 Nolan Wright. Nolan Wright, Appcelerator’s CTO and co-founder adds, “Another thing is that the (Apple) iOS system is really successful and a better way to monetize mobile apps. And Enterprises are more interested in iOS than in Android. The Apple ecosystem is so tight it is a seamless experience for developers and consumers.”
Among the report’s findings:
• Mobile developers predict demise of Facebook. Mobile Developers believe that Facebook is at risk of being disrupted by a mobile-first social startup. A resounding 66% of mobile developers state that it is likely to very likely that a mobile-first social startup will disrupt the market for social applications on mobile devices and take market share from Facebook.
• Top predictions for mobile in 2015. The mobile market is evolving at breakneck speed, with developers predicting that by 2015 they will be building mobile applications for more than smartphones and tablets. Televisions, connected cars, game consoles, GoogleGlasses, and foldable screens all ranked high on the list of form factors in 2015.
• RIM declines to all-time low, providing an opportunity for Windows 8 to become a strong third OS for which to develop mobile apps.Mobile developers “very interested” in building apps for the Blackberry phone fell to an all-time low of 9% from almost 40% in our January 2011 survey.
• Developers remain excited about cloud storage and Backend as a Service, specifically citing the capabilities for applications and data to move across different devices and for secure access to information from anywhere at anytime. The potential remains wide open, however, as only 17% currently implement mobile BaaS.
• Developers are excited about new Apple features. The iOS features developers are most looking forward to using are Apple Maps (over 37%) and enhanced Siri (22%). Faster processors, LTE conductivity, and a larger screen are the advances developers most hope for in the next version of the iPhone.
• Apple continues to reign as the platform of choice for developers. Apple maintained its dominance at the top of developers’ list for mobileapp development this quarter, with 85% of developers very interested in building apps for iOS smartphones and 83% equally focused on iPad apps.
• Android development declines for a fourth quarter. Android’s return to decline in developer interest levels is disconcerting, with now fewer than 65% of developers very interested in developing for that tablet platform.
• HTML5 Still Not Good Enough. Developers ranked their satisfaction with nearly every feature of HTML5 as neutral to dissatisfied, including user experience, performance, monetization, fragmentation, distribution control, timeliness of new updates, and security.
The new Wall Street Journal’s list of the top 50 venture-backed companies expected to become the “Next Big Thing,” includes Appcelerator. The Wall Street Journal considered more than 5,900 candidates for inclusion in this year’s list. Appcelerator was selected for its ability to reduce development time and costs for mobile applications.
Tags: Appcelerator, Apple, disrupt Facebook, iOS, Jonathan Rende, Lyla McInerney, Mark Zuckerberg, mobile first, Nolan Wright, RIM
Posted in Apple, Facebook, Google, Internet/New Media, IT, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Thursday, September 20th, 2012
It’s increasingly more important for retailers to have a mobile strategy. The number of people now shopping on their smartphones represents a shift to large to ignore, according to the comScore Mobile Metrix 2.0 service.
It says a study found that 4 in every 5 smartphone users – 85.9 million in total – accessed retail content on their device in July.
Amazon Sites led as the top retailer with an audience of 49.6 million visitors, while multi-channel retailers including Apple (17.7 million visitors), Wal-Mart (16.3 million visitors), Target (10 million visitors) and Best Buy (7.2 million visitors) also attracted significant mobile audiences.
“With nearly 86 million Americans now shopping on their smartphones, this pronounced shift in consumer behavior is simply too large for retailers to ignore, with the future of their business depending on how well they adapt to the new environment,” said Mark Donovan, comScore SVP of mobile.
Optimizing for multiple platforms not easy
“But adapting isn’t always easy, especially when considering the complexity of the mobile environment, which requires optimizing the experience across multiple platforms and for both mobile websites and apps.
The retailers who best understand how consumers are engaging in mobile shopping behaviors and design their strategies accordingly will be best positioned to capitalize on these shifting market dynamics.”
Amazon Sites Leads as the Top Retail Destination for Smartphone Owners
In July 2012, 85.9 million people age 18 and older visited a retail destination via a mobile browser or app on their smartphone, representing 4 in every 5 smartphone owners (accessing from a device running the iOS, Android or RIM operating systems).
Analysis of selected retailers found that Amazon Sites led as the top destination with an audience of 49.6 million unique visitors, representing 46.6 percent of smartphone owners, followed by eBay with 32.6 million visitors and Apple with 17.7 million visitors.
Wal-Mart had the largest reach among traditional brick-and-mortar retailers with 16.3 million visitors, followed by Target with 10 million visitors and Best Buy with 7.2 million smartphone visitors.
Ticketmaster attracted 5.7 million visitors as summer concerts and performances saw fans turn to their smartphones for tickets and information, while seasonal home improvements fueled visitation to the Home Depot (4.4 million visitors) and competitor Lowes (3.2 million visitors).
As mobile becomes an increasingly important channel for retailers to reach current and potential customers, other companies are recognizing the opportunity smartphones present throughout the shopping process.
Shopkick, a shopping rewards app that provides points for consumers who visit retail partners’ physical stores such as Target, Macy’s, Best Buy, etc., saw its mobile audience reach more than 4 million visitors in July, demonstrating one way consumers are turning to their mobile devices as part of their in-store shopping experience.
Selected Retail Properties by Unique Smartphone Visitors(000) (Mobile Browser and App Audience Combined)
July 2012
Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Age 18+ on iOS, Android and RIM Platforms
Source: comScore Mobile Metrix 2.0 |
|
All Smartphones |
| Total Unique Visitors (000) |
% Reach |
| Retail Category |
85,905 |
80.6% |
| Amazon Sites |
49,636 |
46.6% |
| eBay |
32,583 |
30.6% |
| Apple |
17,684 |
16.6% |
| Wal-Mart |
16,295 |
15.3% |
| Target |
10,041 |
9.4% |
| Best Buy |
7,177 |
6.7% |
| Ticketmaster |
5,699 |
5.3% |
| CVS |
4,468 |
4.2% |
| The Home Depot |
4,353 |
4.1% |
| Blockbuster |
4,017 |
3.8% |
| Barnes & Noble |
3,804 |
3.6% |
| Walgreen |
3,707 |
3.5% |
| Limited Brands |
3,261 |
3.1% |
| Lowes |
3,246 |
3.0% |
| Etsy |
3,160 |
3.0% |
Retailer Penetration Differs Between iPhone and Android Audiences
Mobile Metrix 2.0 provides the ability to view audience activity across smartphone operating systems for more granular insights on platform performance. Among both iPhone and Android users, Amazon ranked as the top retailer attaining a reach of 43 percent among iPhone users and 55 percent among Android users, with visitation to the Amazon Appstore largely accounting for the higher reach among Android users.
In contrast, Apple commanded a much stronger and expected 33.5 percent reach among iPhone owners compared to 7.3 percent among Android users.
Among the majority of the selected retailers, iPhone had a higher penetration compared to Android, while in most cases Android devices delivered a larger audience due to the platform’s higher overall market penetration.
Selected Retail Properties by Unique Smartphone Visitors (000) on iOS and Android Devices (Mobile Browser and App Audience Combined)
July 2012
Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Age 18+ on iOS and Android Platforms
Source: comScore Mobile Metrix 2.0 |
|
iPhone |
Android |
| Total Unique Visitors (000) |
% Reach |
Total Unique Visitors (000) |
% Reach |
| Retail |
34,857 |
90.6% |
47,797 |
82.1% |
| Amazon Sites |
16,540 |
43.0% |
32,010 |
55.0% |
| eBay |
13,098 |
34.1% |
18,574 |
31.9% |
| Apple |
12,880 |
33.5% |
4,261 |
7.3% |
| Wal-Mart |
7,012 |
18.2% |
8,859 |
15.2% |
| Target |
4,084 |
10.6% |
5,620 |
9.7% |
| Best Buy |
3,302 |
8.6% |
3,816 |
6.6% |
| Ticketmaster |
2,676 |
7.0% |
2,930 |
5.0% |
| CVS |
1,822 |
4.7% |
2,641 |
4.5% |
| The Home Depot |
2,050 |
5.3% |
2,169 |
3.7% |
| Blockbuster |
277 |
0.7% |
3,729 |
6.4% |
| Barnes & Noble |
1,256 |
3.3% |
2,408 |
4.1% |
| Walgreen Co. |
829 |
2.2% |
2,787 |
4.8% |
| Limited Brands |
1,575 |
4.1% |
1,586 |
2.7% |
| Lowes |
1,471 |
3.8% |
1,730 |
3.0% |
| Etsy |
1,887 |
4.9% |
1,263 |
2.2% |
Females Account for a Higher Share of Retail Minutes on Smartphones vs. Desktop Computers
Analysis of smartphone shoppers versus those visiting on desktop or laptop computers revealed new insights into audience demographics.
Across both smartphones and desktop computers, males and females represented nearly equal proportions of retail category visitors.
However, females accounted for a higher share of time spent on retail destinations at 53.4 percent of minutes on desktop computers and an even greater share of retail minutes on smartphones at 56.1 percent.
Smartphone shoppers were also more likely to be younger than their desktop counterparts with 70.7 percent of smartphone retail visitors under the age of 45 compared to 61.1 percent of desktop users.
Younger audiences more engaged on mobile
Engagement among these audiences showed even greater disparity with visitors under the age of 45 accounting for nearly 3 in every 4 minutes spent on retail content via smartphones, compared to 61.6 percent of retail minutes on desktop computers.
Smartphone retail audiences were more likely to reside in higher income households compared to desktop computer users, likely as a result of smartphone ownership skewing towards higher income segments compared to an average consumer.
Among smartphone audiences accessing retail destinations, nearly 1 in every 3 had a household income of $100k or greater, with this income segment driving a comparable 31.2 percent of minutes spent on retail sites and apps.
Retail Category Demographic Profile – PC and Smartphone Usage
July 2012
Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Age 18+ on iOS, Android and RIM Platforms, Total U.S. Online Audience Age 18+ – Home/Work Computer Access
Source: comScore Mobile Metrix 2.0 and comScore Media Metrix |
|
Desktop/Laptop Computer Visitors |
Smartphone Visitors |
| % Composition of Retail Unique Visitors |
% Composition of Retail Total Minutes |
% Composition of Retail Unique Visitors |
% Composition of Retail Total Minutes |
| Gender: |
|
|
|
|
| Males |
48.6% |
46.6% |
51.0% |
43.9% |
| Females |
51.4% |
53.4% |
49.0% |
56.1% |
| Age: |
|
|
|
|
| Persons: 18-24 |
15.0% |
11.8% |
19.3% |
18.1% |
| Persons: 25-34 |
23.3% |
23.3% |
28.6% |
33.6% |
| Persons: 35-44 |
22.8% |
26.5% |
22.8% |
22.1% |
| Persons: 45-54 |
19.7% |
19.8% |
15.5% |
16.3% |
| Persons: 55-64 |
12.1% |
12.1% |
10.3% |
8.0% |
| Persons: 65+ |
7.2% |
6.5% |
3.6% |
1.9% |
| Household Income: |
|
|
|
|
| Less than $25K |
15.4% |
12.3% |
12.1% |
12.0% |
| $25k<$40k |
14.1% |
13.1% |
9.4% |
9.2% |
| $40k<$60k |
22.2% |
21.9% |
10.8% |
11.1% |
| $60k<$75k |
10.1% |
10.0% |
19.5% |
22.5% |
| $75k<$100k |
14.5% |
16.0% |
15.5% |
14.1% |
| $100k+ |
23.8% |
26.7% |
32.6% |
31.2% |
Tags: Amazon, Apple, comScore Mobile Metrix, engagement, Mark Donovan, retailers attracting mobile shoppers, smartphone shopper demographics, Walmart
Posted in Analytics, Marketing, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Monday, September 17th, 2012
The iPhone 5 Apple says that pre-orders of its iPhone 5 topped two million in just 24 hours, more than double the previous record of one million held by iPhone 4S.
Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October.
iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology*—while delivering better battery life.
“iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 5 is the best iPhone yet, the most beautiful product we’ve ever made, and we hope customers love it as much as we do.”
iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new user features including: an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation (something Android phones have had for a awhile); Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center; Passbook, a way to get all your passes in one place; new Siri features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud.
Pricing & Availability
iPhone 5 will be available at 356 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, September 21. Every customer who buys an iPhone 5 at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone 5 by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more, so they’ll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store.
iPhone 5 comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model.
Tags: Apple, iPhone 5 features, iPhone 5 pre-orders, price
Posted in Apple, smartphones | No Comments »
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Long considered the standard bearer for online customer satisfaction, retail giant Amazon’s dominance extends to the mobile platform, according to a new index measuring the customer experience of websites and apps on Internet-enabled mobile devices.
Avon and Apple round out the top three companies on the inaugural release of the ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index.
“The mobile platform is maturing much faster than the web in its early days, and more consumers are interacting with companies and brands via mobile devices every day,” said Larry Freed, President and CEO of ForeSee.
“Customers experience the web differently on mobile devices, and companies that do not measure the mobile experience miss an opportunity to solidify customer loyalty and risk losing customers to companies that do.”
Overall satisfaction with the mobile experiences of 20 of the largest online retailers registers 79 on the Index’s 100-point scale, with scores ranging from 76 to 84.
Amazon sets the bar
Almost half of the measured retailers score 80 or above, which ForeSee considers to be a benchmark for excellence. Amazon sets the bar at 84, followed by Avon (83) and Apple (82).
ForeSee, which measures satisfaction across multiple channels, finds that the mobile web experience for retail lags traditional retail web satisfaction significantly. Websites appear fairly uniformly across standard PCs and laptops.
But among mobile devices, there are dozens of different screen sizes, operating systems, hardware specifications, and loading speeds. This reality makes it difficult for companies to provide a uniform standard experience to its customers across platforms.
Top retailers do better on websites than mobile
In a comparison of mobile satisfaction scores to web satisfaction (as reported on ForeSee’s Online Retail Satisfaction Index in Spring 2012), nearly all of the top retailers perform better on traditional websites.
“Consumer expectations of the mobile experience are set by their experience on PCs and laptops. But where there are limitations on screen size and configuration, there are advantages to the touchscreen interface first popularized by Apple’s iPhone and iPad,” said Freed.
“If companies can innovate and optimize the mobile platform, there’s no reason the mobile experience can’t surpass the Web.”
When compared to dissatisfied customers, satisfied customers are 69% more likely to make a purchase using their mobile device, 72% more likely to to recommend the retailer, and 58% more likely to visit the mobile website or app again.
“Satisfaction is the most important customer metric companies can track because it is forward looking and a key driver of behaviors retailers care most about: purchases, recommendations, and loyalty,” said Eric Feinberg, ForeSee Senior Director of Mobile, Media & Entertainment.
“The ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index will be measuring other industries with a strong mobile presence, establishing a uniform benchmark for the mobile experience and indicating which companies need to do more to increase satisfaction that will result in desired consumer behavior that impacts the bottom line.”
Other key findings from the retail edition of the ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index include:
- App users were slightly more satisfied (80) than mobile web users (79). 68% used a retailer’s mobile website, while 32% used a retailer’s app.
- The highest app usage among measured companies was for Netflix (59%), eBay (53%), Groupon (52%), and Walgreens (48%).
- First-time users of a mobile site or app tend to be less satisfied with their mobile experiences as they learn new layouts, navigation, and functionality. First-time visitors score 77 compared to 80 for repeat visitors.
- Customers already familiar with a brand are more satisfied than people who were driven to the company’s mobile site or app via search engines or shopping comparison sites.
- The most popular tasks performed on mobile retail sites and apps were: looking up product details (28%), looking up price information (19%), and checking stock at a store (17%).
- 76% of those surveyed used mobile phones, while 24% used tablets.
The report is based on 4,500 customer surveys collected in August 2012.
Tags: Amazon, Apple, Avon, ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index
Posted in Amazon, Apple, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
|
|
|
