Only 29% of mobile users plan to upgrade to 3G

A new study conducted by A T Kearney, a subsidiary of EDS has revealed that only 29% of mobile users plan to upgrade their existing mobile phone service to a 3G network.

This number is despite the 61% aware of the capabilities of the service. The study was conducted among 6,000 mobile users in 15 different countries.

The study, conducted every six months showed that mobile users are becoming increasingly conscious of changes in price, with one in three saying cost was the main reason they would not upgrade to 3G.

Another major concern was a lack of awareness concerning what the technology could do, with 36 percent citing this factor. 45% of respondents said the major attraction to 3G was the faster internet access the service could render.

The study also reveals that more than one in two adults between the ages of 19 and 34 send at least one text message a day, with sms penetration as high as 75% in some countries. The results of the study point out that mobile advertising is on the increase, although only 1% of respondents had ever made a purchase using their mobile phone.