IDC: Mobile Internet access to surpass PC by 2015

Within the next four years the number of Internet users around the globe will grow from 2010's figure of 2 billion to reach 2.7 billion, forecasts IDC. In that time the feature phone will fade out and most mobile users will sport a smartphone or tablet, or both.

The continuing adoption of devices that provide mobile Internet access means that, by the year 2015, the use of mobile Internet will surpass usage via a PC. As more people pack the power of a smartphone in their pockets PC use will stagnate while smartphone Internet use will grow at an average 16.6% annually, according to IDC's research.

"Forget what we have taken for granted on how consumers use the Internet," said Karsten Weide, research vice president, Media and Entertainment. "Soon, more users will access the Web using mobile devices than using PCs, and it's going to make the Internet a very different place."

The knock-on effects for business and advertising are obvious. IDC predicts global B2C ecommerce spending will grow from $708 billion in 2010 to $1.285 billion in 2015 at a compound annual growth rate of 12.7%.

Meanwhile, global online advertising will increase from $70 billion in 2010 to $138 billion in 2015, with its share of total advertising across all media growing from 11.9% to 17.8%.

Tags: consumer insight, consumer technology, mobile device, mobile Web, smartphone, tablet