In recent years, we have become so accustomed to using the internet on our phones instead of through a PC or Laptop. However, we are now well into an age where mobile internet usage clearly surpasses desktop internet use.

Up until late 2016, desktops were providing the most internet searches, it was only a matter of 6 years or so where there was a jump from 5% to 50%, in terms of the percentage of internet searches carried out through mobile.

Some of the big losers because of this are the likes of Microsoft and Google, the latter stated that “the value of advertising clicks had fallen. Microsoft’s sales did fall for the first time since the global recession era, in 2016, and it’s no surprise, as the war between Apple and Samsung is still in a pivotal stage.

The change is much more noticeable in developing economies such as India, where mobile traffic accounts for around 75% of all internet use, looking at the UK, USA, Australia etc. These countries are still slightly below 50% for mobile traffic compared to total internet use.

The key focus should now be on business, companies must try to prioritise their focus so their websites are convenient for mobile users, soon enough 9 of 10 shoppers/browsers may be accessing a company website through their phone.

A statement from Ofcom back in 2015 read that “60% of consumers ages 16-24 use their mobile as their main internet searching device”.

Even more shocking, Android overtook Microsoft for total internet usage, with the Latter being edged into second by two-hundredths of a percentage point (37.93% vs 37.91%). Meaning Windows has lost more than half of its internet usage, dropping from a record high of 80% just 5 years ago.

This is a revolutionary change, so if you own or direct a business, take a look into your mobile statistics, the trends may shock you. The modern generation is become ever-more reliant on mobile phones, for shopping, social media and business!

Written by Harrison Jones

References : https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/01/mobile-internet-use-passes-desktop-for-the-first-time-study-finds/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/267805/microsofts-global-revenue-since-2002/ https://www.androidauthority.com/android-internet-usage-vs-windows-761329/