According to a new Oracle study, which surveyed more than 3,000 mobile phone consumers worldwide to examine their mobile phone use habits, interest in new mobile technologies and expectations for service providers, 69% of global mobile phone users report using a smartphone and 47% of mobile users have increased their data usage in the past year - a larger percentage than text or voice. But despite the widespread usage, security concerns linger, the report finds. While consumers are becoming more comfortable with location-based services and online banking, they have security concerns, and 69% of respondents indicate they do not believe, or are unsure, whether information stored or transmitted from their mobile device is secure.
"Customer demands continue to evolve rapidly. To maintain a competitive advantage, communications service providers must invest in information technology solutions that provide them the most flexibility and agility, enabling them to rapidly deliver innovative services or to adopt new business models as new opportunities arise," says Bhaskar Gorti, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Communications. "Providers also have an enormous opportunity to enhance their customer relationships by engaging with them at every touch point, leveraging their dynamic role in consumers' shopping experience, and providing valuable information about usage, new services and mobile security."