Why Mobile Web Surfing is Winning Over Desktop Tom November 26, 2018 Technology Our relationship with our phones has undergone some major changes in the past decade or so. After the launch of the first smartphones, we discovered a whole new world at the palm of our hand: We could rely on our phones for accessing the internet and thus carry out a number of tasks that we previously had to use a desktop computer for. To learn about how this tools can benefit your business, check with Andy Defrancesco. The Decline of Desktop Desktop computers have long been our go-to ally when it came to browsing the internet and doing business online. But while there is still merit in the convenience offered in a larger screen and a larger keyboard, it looks like the benefits of mobile surfing are winning the race. As technological developments are following a rapid pace, our smartphones are becoming better and able to perform more complicated tasks. Mobile surfing offers unparalleled portability, as you can take your smartphone wherever you go. Coupled with the continuous development of mobile and telecommunications tech that has made it possible for us to have almost 100% signal coverage, this means that we can now access the web from our phone from effectively anywhere. And we rely on our smartphones more and more, whether it is to browse the news, respond to emails, or even play online games on the go. How Tech Made the Mobile Revolution Possible The advent of 4G tech that is gradually replacing 3G tech and offering better and speedier connection to the mobile web, as well as improving other services like mobile TV and video calls, has turned smartphones into valuable tools – while 5G is expected to start implementation soon. The average connection speed for global mobile networks has grown from 6.8 Mbps in 2016 to 8.7 Mbps in 2017, while it is projected to rise to 11.1 Mbps in by the end of 2018 and a whopping 20.4 Mbps by 2021. The ubiquitous presence of Wi-Fi networks has also made it easier and usually cheaper for mobile users to browse the Web: according to a 2017 study which looked into 19 billion samples from over 1 million users that are active in 87 countries worldwide, users across more than 43% of those countries spend more time online by logging into a Wi-Fi than to a mobile network. Last but not least, the immense popularity of smartphones has led telecommunication companies to lower fees for data usage and offer bundles that make it extremely easy for everyone to gain access to the internet through their mobile phone. Companies Target Mobile Audience by Optimizing Smartphone-Friendly Websites The effort put in by various brands further fuels the use of mobile web. The gaming industry has taken the lead, with online games like Fortnite with millions of fans worldwide have developed versions for for Android and iOS, while popular online casino providers are developing dedicated mobile friendly versions of their offering that includes the most popular games on the desktop platform. Social media like Facebook and online giants like Amazon have also optimized their websites for mobile use, while many of them have also developed mobile apps to make accessing their online services easier for smartphone users. This has become extremely handy when we consider our hectic modern lifestyle: We spend so much of our time commuting and stuck in places on the go that it is extremely convenient to be able to use our smartphone to make good use of our time on the go. It is now easier than ever before to do anything from web banking to booking a flight on your smartphone – so why use desktop if you don’t have to? [Images from Pexels, CC0 licence]