Data allowance has overtaken number of minutes when it comes to what’s top priority when choosing a mobile deal
Almost three quarters (73%) couldn’t do without web access via their phones, while 71% wouldn’t want to part with their phone’s email functionality
Over a quarter of mobile users (26%) chat for less than 30 minutes per month while 23% spend more than five hours each month browsing the web on their phones
Almost a third (32%) of Brits have allowances of less than 300 minutes per month and just 11% have opted for unlimited minutes
But a quarter (25%) of Brits reckon they use less than a fifth of their minutes each month, while less than one in ten (8%) use more than 80%.
It’s not good to talk, say UK mobile phone owners, more than a quarter (26%) of whom chat for less than 30 minutes per month. Not so long ago, choosing the best smartphone deal meant scouting out the package with as many minutes as possible, but now data is king, according to recent research from Uswitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service.
The table below reveals how decisions over mobile contracts are changing, with data having now overtaken minutes in terms of priority:
|
Data
| 43% | 35% | |
Minutes
| 41% |
47%
| | Texts | 17% |
18%
|
Far from chatting for hours on the blower, almost a quarter (23%) of Brits are browsing the web for more than five hours each month, compared to just 9% making or receiving calls for the same duration. And this behaviour is reflected in what mobile users are looking for in a new contract. The next time they upgrade, they’ll be sourcing the package that will give them the greatest data allowance, very sensible as almost three quarters (73%) would be lost without web access via their phones, while a further 71% would be in a pickle without email function.
In fact, almost a third of Brits (32%) have an allowance of less than 300 minutes per month and a meagre 11% have opted for contracts with unlimited minutes. So it’s fitting that a sizeable 25% of mobile users estimate that they use less than a fifth of their allowance of minutes each month, while less than one in ten (8%) uses more than 80% of their talk time.
Equally significant is the fact that nearly three in ten (29%) use their minutes allowance primarily for quick chats with friends and family of under five minutes each, while 12% only use the call function of their phone in emergencies.
However, Brits are still talking to friends and family – they’re just doing it in different ways with three quarters (75%) using texts and 41% email. One in ten of us (13%) uses Apple’s FaceTime video messaging to communicate with our loved ones, with a further 16% preferring to chat via Skype – both of which rely on data.
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, says: “The death knell for mobile minutes has tolled. British consumers are voting with their feet and – far from searching for deals with generous minutes packages – are actively looking for more data.
“With the advent of new methods of communication in the last few years, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to how we stay in touch with our nearest and dearest. But we’re no longer finding it quite so good to talk. As much as we love them, it can now be more convenient – not to mention cost-effective – to use technology such as Skype, email and instant messaging services like WhatsApp, particularly if people make the most of free Wi-Fi where available.
“The way we connect with one another is changing quickly, in business and in our personal lives alike. It’s now up to networks to respond to this shift by providing mobile owners with an attractive – and affordable – selection of deals offering data, while it’s equally vital that consumers make sure they choose a plan which best suits their needs. Checking your previous bills and comparing the latest deals online before upgrading can help you identify the most suitable bundle of minutes, texts and the all-important data allowance for how you use your phone – a move which can easily help you save money.”
Katherine Moss
Phone: 020 3021 5893
Email: katherine.moss@uswitch.com
Twitter: @uswitchPR
Research was carried out online via online with the Uswitch consumer opinion panel amongst 1,649 respondents in July 2013.
Respondents were asked about what they prioritised when choosing their last mobile deal, and what they will prioritise next time. The results are in the table above.
Respondents were asked ‘which of the following phone functions do you think you could live without?’ – 5.2% said ‘calling function’, 7.8% said ‘texting function’, 26.8% said ‘web browsing’, 29.1% said ‘email, 33.5% said ‘apps’, 20.7% said ‘camera’, 19.8% said ‘clock/alarm’, 54.1% said ‘music/radio’, 24.5% said ‘none, I need them all’
Respondents were asked ‘for how many minutes each month do you do each of the following:’ ‘Browsing web pages’: 39.4% said less than 30 mins; 11.7% said 31-60 min; 8.4% said 1-2 hours; 7.6% said 2-3 hours; 5.3% said 3-4 hours; 4.2% said 4-5 hours; 23.4% said more than 5 hours. ‘Social media’: 54% said less than 30 mins; 9.8% said 31-60 min; 8.7% said 1-2 hours; 5.4% said 2-3 hours; 3.5% said 3-4 hours; 3.2% said 4-5 hours; 15.5% said more than 5 hours. ‘Making or receiving calls’: 25.5% said less than 30 mins; 24.3% said 31-60 min; 18.5% said 1-2 hours; 11.3% said 2-3 hours; 7.3% said 3-4 hours; 3.9% said 4-5 hours; 9.2% said more than 5 hours. Texting: 33.7% said less than 30 mins; 24.1% said 31-60 min; 16.2% said 1-2 hours; 9.6% said 2-3 hours; 6.4% said 3-4 hours; 2.6% said 4-5 hours; 7.4% said more than 5 hours.
Respondents were asked ‘how many minutes does your mobile plan include?’ – 31.5% said 100-300, 20.6% said 300-600, 7.7% said 600 -1000, 3.9% said 1000-5000, 10.9% said unlimited, 25.5% said don’t know
Respondents were asked ‘what proportion of your minutes allowance do you think you use in a typical month? – 6.2% said none, 24.7% said less than 20%, 15.7% said 21-40%, 16.9% said 41-60%, 11.8% said 61-80%, 8.4% said 81-100%, 1.3% said more than 100%, 15% said don’t know
Respondents were asked ‘what do you mainly use your mobile minutes for?’ – 11.7% said emergencies only, 14.1% said long chats with family (more than 15 mins), 7.4% said long chats with friends (more than 15 mins), 29.3% said short chats with family (less than 5 mins), 14.4% said short chats with friends (less than 5 mins), 8.3% said arranging my social life, 5.7% said making appointments, 2.6% said calling companies like the bank, 6.4% said making work calls
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