According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, Some 34% of internet users have logged onto the internet using a wireless connection either around the house, at their workplace, or some place else. In other words, one-third of internet users, either with a laptop computer, a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA), or cell phone, have surfed the internet or checked email using means such as WiFi broadband or cell phone networks.
Facts About Wireless Use (among internet users) | |
Those who have logged on wirelessly from a place other than home or work | 27% |
Those who have wireless networks in their homes | 19 |
Those with personal digital assistants that are able to connect to the internet wirelessly | 13 |
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project December 2006 |
Users of wireless access show deeper engagement with cyberspace when focusing on email and news. Among the 34% of internet users who have gone online wirelessly:
The report notes that the differences between wireless and home broadband users are statistically significant and notable because most wireless users (80%) have broadband connections at home.
When asked about the places they connect to the internet by wireless means:
25% of internet users have gone online wirelessly from two of the three places; put differently, three-quarters of all those who have logged onto the internet using a wireless network have done this from more than one of the types of places queried. Specifically, among laptop users whose machines are capable of connecting to the internet wirelessly:
The growth in wireless networks at home has fueled the use of laptops to connect wirelessly around the house. 19% of internet users have wireless networks at home, which is twice the number recorded in January 2005. Those with laptops and home wireless networks take advantage of in-house mobility; three-quarters of these users say they move their laptop around to different parts of the house
25% of internet users say they have a cell phone that connects to the internet with a wireless connection. Among internet users with this capability on their cell phone, 54% have used it to get on the internet either at home, work, or someplace other than home or work.
Among those with cell phones that can connect to the internet:
Users of the wireless internet tend to be younger than internet users in general. For internet users under the age of 30:
As to devices for accessing the internet wirelessly, among internet users under 30:
This table offers a fuller demographic portrait of internet users who have used a wireless connection to go online compared to online users who have not done this.
Demographic Profile Of 34% Of Internet Users Who Have Logged On To The Internet Using A Wireless Device | ||
Wireless users | All other internet users | |
Gender | ||
Male | 56% | 46% |
Female | 44 | 54 |
Age | ||
18-29 | 30 | 19 |
30-49 | 49 | 42 |
50-64 | 19 | 29 |
65+ | 3 | 11 |
Race/ethnicity | ||
White (not Hispanic) | 67 | 79 |
Black (not Hispanic) | 12 | 7 |
Hispanic (English speaking) | 14 | 8 |
Education | ||
Less than high school | 6 | 8 |
High school grad | 22 | 34 |
Some college | 30 | 26 |
College + | 42 | 32 |
Student (full or part-time) | 19 | 12 |
Income | ||
Under $30K | 14 | 23 |
$30K-50K | 13 | 24 |
$50K-$75K | 18 | 13 |
Over $75K | 34 | 20 |
Don't know/refused | 21 | 20 |
Online access | ||
Has broadband at home | 80 | 53 |
Number of cases | 243 | 555 |
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Survey, December 2006, (n=798 for internet users) |