Oh! Let the headlines ring out. Google AdMob released a survey about how tablets are changing the way that consumers are engaging with content. Let’s explore the survey results and see what all the fuss is about.
Google’s AdMob conducted an independant survey to better understand how people are using tablets. In their survey of over 1,400 tablet users, they came to the following conclusions.
Tablet usage is growing and sometimes surpasses time spent on desktop computers and TV’s.
- 43% spend more time with their tablet than with their desktop or laptop.
- 1 in every 3 spend more time with their tablet than watching TV.
Tablets are mainly used for playing games, surfing the web, and e-mailing.
- 84% use tablets for playing games.
- 78% use tablets for surfing the web.
- 74% use tablets for e-mail.
Tablet usage is at its peak during the week, at night, and at home.
- 82% primarily use their tablet at home.
- 69% use their tablet more frequently on weekdays, relative to weekends.
- 62% use their tablet more frequently during night hours, relative to daytime hours.
Tablets really are replacing desktops and laptops!
- 77% of users reported their desktop/laptop usage decreased after getting a tablet.
- 28% use a tablet as their primary computer.
- 68% spend at least 1 hour per day on their tablet.
So what’s all the fuss about with the AdMob survey again?
Everyone is making a big deal about this, but the reality is there’s nothing surprising or new here at all. For well over one year analysts have been saying that tablets will continue to chip away at the market share of desktops and laptops.
What we have to remember is that the tablet industry is still within its infancy. Here we are, it’s only been a little more than a year since the modern tablet was introduced with the iPad, and suddenly tablets everywhere. It took until January 2011 and CES before the rest of the world caught on, but we can’t say we didnt see it coming well in advance.
Tablets are a big deal. Deal with it.
It’s not all for nothing. There’s a few key things to watch out for in the near future.
This survey represents a market that is not yet advanced. The tablet computer market is arguably one of the fastest growing and rapidly changing, emerging markets in all of the history of technology. The speed by which tablet technology is advancing is astronomical. However, it’s all still very new!
As the market becomes saturated with more tablet choices, and tablets become deeply rooted in all aspects of life, usage figures will increase. It seems that tablet owners are primarily using tablets in limited capacity, at least according to the AdMod survey. Web browsing, playing games, and emailing.
As the functionality of tablets become more robust, and more widely accepted as a standard, these numbers will remain consistent or increase over time.
I do see value in tablets as mobile gaming consoles, and I believe we will see a huge trend there.
There will be a certain sway towards tablets becoming primary computers.
That’s what you can count on.
