American Consumers Mainly want WiMAX for On-the-Go E-mail

From Cellular-News -

A Motorola consumer survey reveals that the top four anticipated Internet uses for WiMAX mobile will be email, live news, mobile TV, and music downloading:

● 49% would likely use WiMAX to read or respond to e-mail;
● 31% would read or view "live," real-time online media;
● 28% would enjoy mobile entertainment;
● 28% said they would use WiMAX to download/listen to music.

In the survey, WiMAX was defined as a new, long-range wireless broadband technology that provides secure, high-speed Internet access through a laptop or other device, which can be used in a "fixed" or stationary setting like a home or office.

More importantly, WiMAX was defined as being able to be used while walking or traveling in a car, cab, bus or train, and the Internet connectivity it provides will have the connection speeds of cable or DSL, but with the mobility and roaming of today's cellular networks.

The survey also confirmed what most wireless service providers are counting on: 57% of Internet users think it's important that wireless broadband service be available wherever they may be.

On another level, consumers were asked a variety of questions about how they would most often use wireless broadband. According to the survey, the following scenarios rank among the most popular personal consumer uses of mobile WiMAX:

● 20% of the consumers said they would use Internet-delivered navigation services to get a real-time video view of traffic at major intersections while driving to or from their homes.
● 17% would rely on Internet mobile TV to help entertain restless children in the car while waiting for an oil change or other minor repair.
● 11% would use a mobile broadband Internet connection to check restaurant wait times, menus and daily specials online while coordinating dinner plans with busy friends.
● Internet users also want mobility at work. Of those surveyed:
● 45% would find it beneficial to use WiMAX for reading and responding to e-mail;
● 43% for accessing the Internet for work;
● 33% for accessing their company Intranet to better manage customers, resources and field service;
● 30% for sending data, including pictures or video, from remote sites back to the office.

The survey of 601 USA Internet-using households was conducted by CENTRIS through a national telephone omnibus survey between May 9-15, 2007. The margin of error for the survey is +4%.