Boom predicted in mobile internet use

'Nearly half of all the mobiles coming into New Zealand in 2011 will be able to access the internet', said IDC's Mark Novosel

Advances in technology mean more New Zealanders will surf the internet while on the move this year.

Analysts predict the next 12 months will see 1.6 million internet connections from mobile handsets, up 200,000 from 2010.

The number of New Zealanders accessing mobile broadband from their laptops will also grow by over 30 per cent, according to market research firm IDC.

The combined increase will bring spending on mobile internet and broadband up by 28 per cent to over $300 million.

The growth of mobile internet also means nearly 40 per cent of all mobile connections in 2011 will be for internet data, IDC said.

Ericsson's New Zealand marketing manager Warren Chaisatien said the growing demand for devices like the iPad is one factor pushing mobile internet use up.

"The popularity of tablet computing devices for enterprise and consumer applications will further drive mobile broadband growth in 2011 across Australia and New Zealand," said Chaisatien.

Indeed, nearly half of all the mobiles coming into New Zealand in 2011 will be able to access the internet, said IDC's Mark Novosel.

"We are forecasting smartphone shipments to grow by 35 per cent in 2011 to over 600,000 and will account for 45 per cent of all mobile devices shipped this year.

"Steady growth in smartphones is expected, with penetration tipped to exceed 50 per cent in 2013," he said.