White Paper: Social Networking Primed To Go Mobile

A new study from IpsosInsight (pdf), but I gotta say, this PR blurb makes it look like same-old, same-old. Eg. Europeans are more advanced than Americans with using mobile technology. So, I won’t be paying the 2000 bucks for the report. But if you do, and they’ve just marketed the report poorly, lemme know? I’ll reconsider then. Here is the blurb from their site:

New York, NY — Web 2.0 and Social Media is all the rage but what does the Social Networker really look like? And how does visiting a social network really impact technology ownership, mobile phone features, digital media consumption, and online/mobile behavior both here in the US and around the globe?

Ipsos Insight’s newest report, PROFILE: Social Networker, gets to the heart of the matter and identifies key differences in behavior and digital media consumption between those who visit social networks and those who don’t. In addition, there are also notable differences between the US Social Networker and the International Social Networker.

“This is very important information for media, entertainment, and technology companies to understand” says Brian Cruikshank, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Ipsos Insight’s Technology and Communications practice. “Social Networkers are significantly more likely to own technology, consume more digital entertainment, and own more mobile devices.”

Technology Ownership

The US Social Networker owns significantly more technology than their International counterparts with the exception of MP3 players and Mobile GPS. However both of them own more technology than those who have never visited a social networking site.

Digital Entertainment

By a significant margin, Social Networkers both here in the US and internationally are more likely to engage in online music, video, and gaming activities. Over half of all US Social Networkers have watched TV shows or video streams online. In addition, US Social Networkers are significantly more likely to download TV programs, burn/copy a movie or TV show, and download a feature length film.

Social Networking Goes Mobile

In terms of mobile behavior, over half of all US Social Networkers have used their mobile device to send/receive SMS text and e-mails, browse the internet for news and info, and receive digital images. While the International Social Networker exhibits the same behavior, their mobile devices are more feature rich. For example, the International Social Networker is significantly more likely to have an MP3 on their mobile device vs. those in the US.

It is clear that Web 2.0 is here to stay. Social networking sites are beginning to deliver more and more content, broadband continues to grow, and more feature-rich mobile devices continue to be introduced into the US market. “We can look to the International Social Networker for a preview of where the US market will go and it’s going to be all about mobile social networking” concludes Cruikshank.

I couldn’t find the link to purchase the report: odd.