After India’s independence, the mobile phone has enabled its citizens to overcome geographic barriers and socio-economic status, according to a recent study by Qualcomm and CyberMedia Research (CMR).
The study found that the smartphone has contributed to personal security in India for 76 per cent people, enhanced quality of life for 66 per cent, and personal independence of 63 per cent people. Seventy five percent of Indians surveyed say they have enhanced knowledge of the world and the smartphone offers way to spend time via access to social media, music and videos, which bring joy to 8 out of 10 Indians. A day in India starts and ends for most people with their smartphone. Within 30 minutes of waking up, 69 per cent of Indians reach for their phone. Smartphones are also a way for 43 per cent of them to access government services of information.
“The smartphone market in India is growing at an exceptional pace and the opportunities therein are limitless,” Larry Paulson, the vice president and president of Qualcomm India. “Adding impetus to the growth is affordability of data services, thus enabling Indians to gain access to many services including various schemes and services offered by the Government of India.” He added that the smartphone enables consumers in India to not just communicate, but to go online and perform many key functions in their lives, such as learning new information, connecting to friends, making and accepting payments, navigating through traffic, accessing government services, finding and applying for jobs and more.
No other nation has embraced mobile phones the way India has, according to Apalak Ghosh, head – Industry Consulting Group (ICG), CMR. “By connecting Indians to the internet, mobile phones have opened many new possibilities for them to perform key functions: whether it is communications or education, transportation or emergency situations, e-commerce or government interface,” he said.
A majority of those who were surveyed do not own a desktop, laptop, or a tablet and use smartphone as their access point for digital world. “While the survey findings indicate the myriad contexts in which mobile phones have enabled India, I believe the most encouraging and positive takeaway is the sense of personal security and independence gained by women,” Prabhu Ram, head – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR, pointed out.