Localytics: just 6% of iPad use comes from 3G or 4G
updated 10:00 am EDT, Fri March 23, 2012
Localytics says iPad cellular use still low
Fresh data from Localytics of iPad Internet traffic has shown that just six percent of users actively use a 3G or 4G connection. Although about 10.3 percent of the devices themselves were cellular-capable, those who had sprung for the extra connection still spent most of their time on Wi-Fi. So far, 4G iPad owners were spending less time than their 3G peers, at 36 percent of their time on a 4G network.
The tracking comes from app traffic and isn't an absolute reflection of the market. It does, however, corroborate a report of a tenth of US iPads having cellular access. The gap between ownership and use is most likely attributed to the prepaid nature of access and many treating 3G or 4G as insurance or as something they only use for travel.
A heavy bias towards Wi-Fi use, even on 3G and 4G editions, equally explains the poor adoption of Android tablets so far. While Wi-Fi only versions have been available, they have usually been downplayed in favor of 3G and 4G versions. The difference both puts their minimum asking prices higher and in many cases puts pressure on buyers to get a contract for service they don't need.
