95% of Europeans Online During the Holidays
July 21st, 2011
About 95 percent of Europeans connect to the Internet during their holiday period, to avoid having to log off from their email accounts, both personal and work, or from social networks and other online entertainment sites.
This is one of the main conclusions of a study carried out by networking solutions company Brocade, which surveyed 500 people across Europe, reports Europa Press.
Half of the respondents planned to access the Internet at least once a day at their holiday destination, while more than 40 percent specifically searched for locations or accommodations which would provide them with a permanent Internet connection, anywhere and anytime. For example, a quarter of those polled said they had accessed the Internet from the beach, and 4 percent had even managed to get online in the jungle.
Internet penetration in Europe is higher than the global average – 67 per cent compared to 27 percent – and the number of users has grown nearly 260 percent since 2000. Today’s users want access from wherever they are, and the use of mobile devices has skyrocketed in recent years.
Brocade said that from the data gathered it is easy to see how consumer habits are changing, from the growing popularity of video and television ‘streaming’ to planning and booking their holidays over the Internet.
According to the survey, the majority of respondents take at least one mobile device on holiday, whether it be a laptop, a ‘smartphone’ or ‘tablet’, and use it to keep in touch with friends and family. However, 84 percent prefer to use smartphones while on holiday, compared to larger devices such as laptops.
About 40 percent admit that they do not like being disconnected from their social networks and only 7 percent of those surveyed said they did not access the Internet while on holiday.
In addition, about one third of respondents use their mobile devices during their vacations to keep up-to-date with work, specifically to check emails, download documents or simply to be available to their customers or colleagues, even though nearly 60 percent admit that this sometimes causes friction with family or friends who want to relax.
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