iPhone 4S users consume nearly twice the amount of data as iPhone 4 owners according to a new study. Research from Arieso suggests the phone consumes more than 3x the data of the original iPad 3G, too. “I use the iPhone 4 myself and when I first heard of the iPhone 4S features I was not compelled to rush out and get one,” Arieso’s chief technology officer Michael Flanagan said. “However, the data usage numbers I am seeing make me wonder what I am missing.” Apple’s virtual assistant Siri is likely responsible for the added data consumption, although Arieso didn’t specifically say that in its report. In addition, Arieso said just 1% of data users consume half of all downlink data. “While the report provides general trends, the studies on which they’re based demonstrate the importance to operators of understanding the increased consumption each type of smartphone brings,” Flanagan said. “Despite stark industry warnings, mobile operators are still playing ‘Guess Who?’ with their subscribers.” Arieso’s press release follows after the break.
Arieso reveals latest trends in smartphone data use
06 January 2012
- Study reveals explosive growth in mobile data demand
- iPhone 4S users are the “hungriest” data consumers, demanding twice as much data as iPhone 4 users and three times as much as iPhone 3G users
- Just 1% of all users now consume HALF of the entire downlink data
Fuelled by new smartphones, apps and services consumer demand for mobile data is accelerating beyond expectations, finds a new report from Arieso. Following a similar study in 2010, Arieso’s new analysis reveals that so-called ‘extreme’ users are becoming even more extreme, with 1% of subscribers now consuming HALF of all downloaded data. One thing is clear: the capacity issues plaguing mobile operators around the world will worsen in 2012.
The Arieso study, “Recent Smartphone Trends & the Extreme Data User”, compares data usage across a variety of smartphones and connected devices. It finds that users of the iPhone 4S demand three times as much data as iPhone 3G users and twice as much as iPhone 4 users, who were identified as the most demanding in the 2010 study. In a finding consistent with 2010 results, it also shows that Google Nexus One users make twice as many data calls as iPhone 3G users.
“The introduction of increasingly sophisticated devices, coupled with growing consumer demand, is creating unrelenting pressure on mobile networks. The capacity crunch is still a very real threat for mobile operators, and it looks set to only get harder in 2012,” commented Dr. Michael Flanagan, CTO, Arieso and study author. “The mobile industry needs new investment and new approaches to boost network performance and manage the customer experience”.
Top Line Results
The Arieso analysis compares the data consumption of users of the latest smartphones against the iPhone3G as a “normalised benchmark”. The study found that different users and different devices exhibit very different demands on the network.The most significant change in consumer behaviour between 2010 and 2011 data has been catalysed by the introduction of the iPhone 4S. iPhone 4S users download 2.76 times as much data as users of the iPhone 3G. And while an Android-powered device maintains last year’s position at the top of the table for uplink data volumes, with HTC Desire S users typically uploading 3.23 times as much data as iPhone 3G users, the iPhone 4S falls just behind in this category with a typical 3.20 times as much data uploaded.
There are some very hungry handset users, even compared to the iPhone 3G benchmark (iPhone 3G = 100%):
Data calls per subscriber:
- HTC Google Nexus One: 221%
- Sony Ericsson Xperia X10i: 157%
- HTC Desire: 156%
Uplink data volumes:
- 3G Modems (various): 2654%
- HTC Desire S: 323%
- iPhone 4S: 320%
Downlink data volumes:
- 3G Modems (various): 2432%
- iPhone 4S: 276%
- Samsung Galaxy S: 199%
“While the report provides general trends, the studies on which they’re based demonstrate the importance to operators of understanding the increased consumption each type of smartphone brings. Despite stark industry warnings, mobile operators are still playing ‘Guess Who?’ with their subscribers,” continued Flanagan.
“Without adequately preparing networks to support the new generation of smart devices, operators risk spiralling and misplaced operational expenditure and delivering a sub-par quality of experience to customers. It’s critical that operators redouble their efforts to limit the impact of this inevitable squeeze.”
Arieso has published the detailed findings of its latest studies, conducted using ariesoGEO, together with in-depth analysis in its report “Recent Smartphone Trends & the Extreme Data User” which is available upon request.
