comScore: iPhones use Wi-Fi much more than Android
updated 03:35 pm EDT, Mon April 2, 2012
iPhone users more often use Wi-Fi to hop online
iPhone owners are much more likely to hop on Wi-Fi than their Android-using counterparts, comScore found through a look at US and UK owners. About 71 percent of American iPhone owners, and 87 percent of their British parallels, used Wi-Fi along with 3G. Only 32 percent of US Android owners did the same, while 57 percent of UK Android owners do the same.
The researchers explained it as possibly coming both through technical differences and the prevalence of hotspots in either country. As Apple didn't want to make design sacrifices to get faster data, its users were still on 3G and were more dependent on Wi-Fi for speed. AT&T's network is still well-known for being oversaturated in key cities, such as New York City and San Francisco. Android owners have both 21Mbps or faster HSPA+ and LTE available and aren't under as much pressure to use Wi-Fi.
AT&T is well-known for having one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspot networks in the US and, lately, has been launching outdoor Wi-Fi zones. UK residents were introduced to capped cellular data sooner and more likely to be using Wi-Fi overall, but 3G speeds may have had the same effect on Android in that country as in the US.
The demographics could change significantly with mounting rumors of an LTE iPhone appearing by the fall. In good conditions, LTE is often as fast or faster than current landline Internet access, reducing the need for Wi-Fi other than to save bandwidth and battery use.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
The last line says it all.
"...reducing the need for Wi-Fi other than to save bandwidth and battery use."
I only turn on wireless data when I am away from my usual wifi connections. I have pretty good battery life as a result. I value good battery life, and disagree entirely with the way wireless data is defined and priced.
fer instance. texting fees? How is texting not data, and therefore not included in my data plan?!!?! Bogus. How is unlimited data unlimited when there's a cap and bandwidth reduction?!!?! Dopey.
So, by using wifi, I get better battery life, and basically avoid the stupid that is AT&T wireless data plan.