The digital age is entering the "post-PC world," according to new research from GlobalWebIndex (GWI) produced by Trendstream. PCs and laptops are being replaced by mobile
handsets and tablets, as well as TV sets, as favorite go-to devices to access the Internet.
The next 12 months will see a transformation in the way users connect to the Web, according
to the research, with tablets leading the charge. Currently, 79% said their personal PC or laptop was their favorite device for accessing the Net. But a year from now, that figure will plummet to 42%,
while 40% said a tablet, mobile phone or e-reader would be their top choice for going online. Another 7% will use an Internet-ready TV, while just 11% will continue to use their work PC or laptop.
And apps are part of the game-changing mix as well, GWI reported. App use is growing by double-digit percentages this year. Between February and June, the use of gaming apps worldwide was up
19%. In North America during the same period, the number of smartphone-using consumers who downloaded an app within the past 30 days was up 14%. "Apps and device-specific platforms help create a
diverse and disconnected Web," the report concludes.
GWI interviewed close to 100,000 individuals in 27 different markets in June and July.