Frost & Sullivan: By 2018, New Zealand will have 90% smartphone and 78% tablet ownership levels

Frost & Sullivan: By 2018, New ZealandFrost & Sullivan: By 2018, New Zealand will have 90% smartphone and 78% tablet ownership levels PR Newswire AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 11, 2013 - Mainstream activities include mobile media, social networking, online shopping, video and music access 64% of New Zealanders aged between 15 and 65 currently own a smartphone, and ownership levels are expected to grow strongly reaching 90% penetration in 2018. Android (64%) leads over the Apple iOS (24%) as the preferred operating platform. As smartphone suppliers continue to improve their functionality at cheaper price points, Apple's market share is predicted to drop further over the next few years. Frost & Sullivan's new research, New Zealand Mobile Device Usage 2013, reports that over the past five years, mobile devices have transitioned from being used primarily for voice and text to more sophisticated multi-functional usage based on their mobile media capabilities. Phil Harpur, Senior Research Manager, Australia & New Zealand ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan says, "44% of New Zealand smartphone users mainly utilise their smartphones to regularly engage with mobile media. 61% of smartphone users access social networking via an app or via an internet site at least once a month while the other activities that are becoming more common include job search (36% at least once in every six months), house buying (29%) and car purchase (29%)." Smartphones are also widely used in the shopping process.