Wireless Internet Users May Reach 96 Million by 2005
New York, March 6 (Bloomberg) -- The number of U.S. consumers using cell phones and other wireless devices to access the Internet will rise to 96 million in 2005, from 4.1 million last year, according to a study by Jupiter Media Metrix Inc.
About 74.9 million, or more than three-fourths, will use cell phones to log on to the Web, while 7.3 million will use wireless phones with electronic-organizer capabilities, said Joe Laszlo, an analyst at the New York-based Internet research company.
The U.S. market for wireless Internet devices is likely to be limited to ``narrowband'' connections, meaning the devices won't be able handle large amounts of data, the study said. Consumers in the U.S. will probably have to wait four to six years for faster connections carrying more data, while Japan is likely to have that capability within two years, the study said.
``Speeds will be slower than a lot of companies are counting on,'' Laszlo said. ``The message for companies is that there's wireless potential, but you have to build for the networks that exist today.''
About 4.4 million consumers will connect to the Web through handheld computers such as Palm Inc.'s electronic organizers, Laszlo said. About 9.4 million will use handheld computers that download information from personal computers connected to the Internet, he said.
Jupiter Media Metrix shares fell 3 cents to $4.44. They had dropped 89 percent in the last 12 months.
Mar/06/2001 16:17 ET |
