87% data users in India access internet through mobiles: TRAI

A whooping 87 per cent of data users in India access internet through mobile phones and tablets, according to a report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

As per the report, there are 164.81 million users in India who have internet access. Out of that 143.20 million subscribers access internet through wireless phones, i.e. mobile phones and tablets.

TRAI data also reports negative growth in the Indian telecom sector. According to data released by TRAI today, the number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 895.51 million at the end of December 2012 to 898.02 million at the end of March this year, registering a growth of 0.28 per cent over the previous quarter Dec-12. This reflects year-on-year (Y-O-Y) negative growth of 5.61 per cent over the same quarter of last year.

On similar lines, total wireless (GSM +CDMA ) subscriber base registered a growth of 0.36 per cent over the previous quarter and subscriber base increased from 864.72 million at the end of December 12 to 867.80 million at the end of March 2013. Thus the year-on-year (Y-O-Y) negative growth rate of wireless subscribers for March 13 is 5.59 per cent.

Interestingly, urban teledensity declined from 149.90 to 146.96 whereas rural subscription increased from 338.54 million to 349.22 million, and rural teledensity increased from 39.85 to 41.02.

However, in a respite to the telecom service provider, the Monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU ) for GSM service has been increased by 6.99 per cent, from 98 in December 2012 to 105 in March this year, with YoY increase of 7.84 per cent.

However, though the ARPU for prepaid has increased by 6.62 per cent

(from 339 to 361), the same for the postpaid has been decreased by 0.76% (from

953 to 946). The rise in ARPU was quite obvious, in August last year

87% Indian teens love to share mobile videos : survey

Indians, particularly teens, love to share videos through their mobile phones, according to a survey of Vuclip.

As per the survey, 87 per cent of the teens questioned admitted that they share mobile video regularly. When it comes to gender, more men than women in India share mobile videos at 67 per cent and 59 per cent, respectively.

Also, notwithstanding the brouhaha over social networking, SMS was found to be the more popular means of sharing among Indians than Facebook or Twitter.

"SMS emerged as the most popular means of sharing among global respondents. 20 per cent of the total lot chose SMS over Facebook and Google+. Reflecting this trend, 38 per cent of Indian respondents use SMS to share mobile video, giving Facebook a backseat at 12 per cent. Also notable is that although only 4 per cent of people say that Twitter is the most common way they share mobile video, that core group of tweeters is extremely active," Vuclip said in a press release.

"We live in a hyper-connected world where people enjoy sharing their views and experiences on the go. On Vuclip as well we make sure that consumers can share the videos they like quickly and easily. More than 65 per cent of video views occur as a result of social sharing," said Arun Prakash, chief operating officer, marketing and content, Vuclip.

The survey also said that more than 50 per cent of Indian respondents between 18 and 35 years said they watch movie trailers on their mobiles.

Android rules with 80% market share. iOS and WPOS in 2nd and 3rd spot. BBOS and SymbianOS at the depth

Android is marching its way toward outright dominance in the smartphone operating system market.

During the second quarter of 2013, Android captured a record 80 percent of the worldwide smartphone market, research firm Strategy Analytics reported Thursday. Out of the 229.6 million smartphones that shipped during the period, 182.6 million of those were Android-based handsets. Apple's iOS came in second place with 13.6 percent market share on 31.2 million shipments. Windows Phone was able to nab 3.9 percent share on 8.9 million unit shipments.

"Competitive licensing costs, numerous hardware partners, and a large apps store continue to be among the main drivers of Android's success," Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston said in a statement. "Apple iOS reached 14 percent global smartphone share in the quarter, its lowest level since Q2 2010."

Despite the decline for iOS, it was still a strong quarter for Apple, which saw shipments rise from 26 million in the second quarter of 2012. Android device shipments were 108.7 million in the second quarter of 2012. All told, just 156.5 million smartphones were shipped in the second quarter of 2012 -- 73 million less units than this year.

Strategy Analytics noted that Windows Phone is making some strides in the mobile space, but cautioned that the only way for Microsoft to nab serious market share is if the company charges less for software licensing, making its platform "more competitive to compete with Android in lower price-bands." The other section has BlackberryOS which had its way below the WindowsPhoneOS (something for Microsoft to cherish about) and Nokia's soon-to-vanish Symbian OSIt's clear that the days of neck and neck competition are behind us.