When you think about how much time you spend online, the chances are the bulk of your online activities will be carried out on a mobile device. Even if you work using a desktop or laptop, statistics show you are more likely to switch to your mobile or tablet when you are away from your desk.
Back in 2013, only 16.2% of the world’s internet traffic came from mobile phones but, by 2019, that number had risen to over 53% (not including tablets which accounted for just under 3% of traffic). A combination of more powerful mobile devices and increased internet speeds has made browsing on the go easier. Our mobile phones have become the central hubs to our busy lives and we use them to communicate, organise and entertain ourselves.
Mobile focus
Such is the importance of mobile phones in the modern world that some start-up companies have focused the majority of their attention on mobile users, developing apps rather than websites to launch their businesses. In Europe, the banking industry has been shaken up by an influx of mobile-only banks such as Revolut, Starling, Monzo, Monese and N26. In the online casino world, names such as LeoVegas, which appears on this popular New Zealand casino website, have flourished thanks to their “mobile-first” approach, leading to them winning awards for that fact.
These businesses, and others, have recognised that people are moving away from desktop and laptop devices and towards smartphone use. By focusing on providing the best possible mobile experience, they have been able to experience rapid growth in their crowded marketplaces. But could it be that we have already reached a saturation point for mobile phone use?
The new normal
The numbers suggest that mobile internet traffic could have already reached a peak. Over the last three years, the percentage of mobile traffic has held steady at just over 50%. This could soon see a drop because of a recent trend: remote working. When people work from home, they spend more time in front of a desktop computer or laptop and less time commuting, reducing their mobile use.
Online shoppers bucking the trend
There is also evidence to suggest that while users enjoy using their mobiles for banking, entertainment and other activities, they still prefer to do their retail shopping in a desktop environment. This is backed up by the fact that the conversion rate for mobile online shoppers decreased from 2018 to 2019.
It is clear that mobile users spend most of their time on apps that are more geared towards functional or practical purposes and certain types of entertainment such as mobile gaming and wagering. Other activities such as shopping and TV or movie streaming are more suited to desktops and laptops. This is leading to a scenario where we have an almost perfect 50/50 split between desktop and mobile traffic, a situation that certain device manufacturers may have been aiming for all along.
