According to research recently released by mobile ad network InMobi, 41% of mobile users in North America plan to purchase the iPhone 5. 50% of those planning to purchase the phone will buy it within the first six months after it is launched, which could propel its current 27% smartphone market share to 41%. InMobi added one caveat: if Apple decides to release a minor upgrade to the current iPhone, just 15% of consumers will purchase the new device. InMobi’s research revealed that consumers hope Apple upgrades the processing speed, screen resolution, battery life and service quality in the new device. 51% of current iPhone owners, 27% of BlackBerry owners and 52% of Android owners plan to upgrade to the iPhone 5. If Apple reveals an iPhone 4S, however, just 11% of iPhone and BlackBerry users and 28% of Android users plan to make the purchase. “Apple is currently the clear leader in terms of compelling user experience and customer loyalty, and we feel that their quality and pace of innovation when it comes to mobile devices will continue to improve the content and advertising experience for consumers for iPhone 5 and beyond,” InMobi vice president of global research and marketing James Lamberti said. Read on for the full press release.
InMobi Smartphone Study Reveals 41% of Mobile Users to Buy Apple iPhone 5
North American Mobile Ad Market to Benefit from Most Highly-Anticipated Smartphone Launch to Date
SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2011 — SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — InMobi, the world’s largest independent mobile ad network, today announces the combined results of its monthly InMobi Mobile Insights network ad data research and a custom iPhone-focused study, iPhone 5 and the Mobile Market. The InMobi announcement acts as a forecast to the scope and effect of the confirmed October 4th Apple iPhone announcement in North America. InMobi anticipates the North American mobile ad market to experience a significant increase in mobile media consumption based on the iPhone 5 consumer data findings.
Apple iPhone 5 potentially the most successful smartphone launch to date
The recent InMobi consumer smartphone survey uncovers that 41% of current mobile users in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada plan to buy an iPhone 5—potentially making it the most successful launch from the consumer electronics giant to date. The study further finds that over 50% of those users will make the purchase within the first six months of the iPhone 5 launch, which could take Apple significantly ahead of its June 2011 market position, and increase its mobile platform market share from 27% in June (comScore Inc., August 2011) to 41%.
However, if Apple only unveils a product update—akin to the 3GS version of the iPhone that Apple released in 2009—interest in the new smartphone will be significantly lower, with fewer than 15% of consumers likely to actively pursue the new handset.
The study finds that consumers are most hopeful for improved battery life; increased processing speed; higher-quality screen resolution; and stronger phone service in the rumored Apple smartphone.
Customer retention and new users
The study uncovered that over half of BlackBerry users (52%) are planning to switch to the new Apple iPhone 5, followed by 51% of current iPhone users and over one in four (27%) Android owners. Even if the announcement only unveils an iPhone 4S, 28% of current BlackBerry smartphone owners plan to switch to Apple, more than double the amount of current iPhone and Android owners.
Percentage of mobile consumers planning to switch to new iPhone: Current Phone % Planning to Switch to iPhone 5 % Planning to Switch to iPhone “4S” iPhone 51 11 Android 27 11 BlackBerry 52 28 InMobi experiences continued network growth in North America
InMobi’s North America Market Overview, which shows nearly 24 billion mobile ad impressions on the InMobi network over the past quarter, denotes that Apple mobile ad impressions are on the rise in iPod Touch devices and that as a manufacturer, Apple has the majority of the market share, at 29%. Data from the report also indicates a 33% growth in mobile ad impressions over the past three months, and a 39% growth in smart phone impressions in the North America mobile market. An infographic outlining the full findings of InMobi’s most recent research is available at: http://www.inmobi.com/research/.
Commenting on InMobi’s latest findings, James Lamberti, VP Global Research & Marketing at InMobi, said: “The combination of Apple’s increasing market share in mobile advertising and general consumer interest in their latest technology is another boon for the mobile advertising industry. Apple is currently the clear leader in terms of compelling user experience and customer loyalty, and we feel that their quality and pace of innovation when it comes to mobile devices will continue to improve the content and advertising experience for consumers for iPhone 5 and beyond.”
