Stepped inside a mobile phone store lately? If you haven't I can tell you that a lot of the cell phones inside Bell, Rogers, Telus are all now mobile devices with more than cellular capabilities. And, most of them require you to be on a voice and data plan if you want to get the phone at a cheaper price.
And, unsurprisingly... “eMarketer forecasts the number of mobile subscribers in Canada will rise from 24.5 million this year to nearly 30 million by 2014, an increase of about 20%. Subscriber growth will level off as the market approaches higher penetration levels, reaching 84.7% by 2014.” (Source: eMarketer)
Comparing Canada against other countries reveal that smartphone penetration in Canada is quite high (near the top) which would match the expected increase in mobile subscriptions over the next couple of years. A good piece to know if you're planning for media spend/ penetration on your customers.
The interesting thing is that not even ten years ago I asked why anyone would want to go online with their small screened cell phones. It was inconvenient because you can barely see anything on the screen and the keys were a disaster to use with three letters designated to one button. Mobile internet has since come along way. It finally is more convenient to use and allows you to stay connected no matter where you are. They are addicting (but fun) to have and use as long as you don’t become a slave to it.
