January 11, 2012 12:00 PM

Would it surprise you to learn that only 30 per cent of Canadians own a smartphone? It surprised the heck out of me.

The number is from September 2011 (Ipsos Reid). Consider another stat: smartphone ownership in Canada grew by only 30 per cent between January and August of 2011, while tablet ownership doubled and eReader ownership grew by 75 per cent. This led Ipsos Reid to conclude “the growth potential for smartphone ownership appears to be leveling off slightly.”

Why is that? Smartphones are fantastic. Who doesn’t want a fully capable computer that you carry with you everywhere? In fact, smartphones are so capable they are messing up other markets. U.S. numbers from NPD Group show that holiday sales of GPS devices fell 37 per cent, and that sales of MP3 players and point-and-shoot cameras each dropped 21 per cent. (http://goo.gl/F4rGW)

GPS units, MP3 players and cameras are all useful things. If people aren’t buying them, it’s largely because smartphones are eating those sales. This is the trend Cisco saw when it shut its Flip camcorder business.

But if smartphones are so great — and c’mon, clearly they are — why do only 30 per cent of Canadians own one? I would really like to hear opinions on this, from both a personal and workplace perspective.

And remember, this isn’t just about playing Angry Birds and taking a quick video. Canada’s weak per-person investment in technology is consistently blamed for our lower-than-average productivity. From that perspective, it’s not a stretch to say that more smartphones equal a stronger and more prosperous country.

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Blogger Profile: Peter Wolchak

Peter Wolchak has been a professional print journalist for more than a decade. Starting as a news photographer at a community newspaper, Peter then worked as a staff writer at ComputerWorld Canada, a national trade magazine, and later served as the editor of that publication for four years. Peter then moved up to the national business magazine arena as the editor of Backbone. In addition to these journalism activities, Peter has also worked as a public speaker and discussion moderator, served as a judge for the McLuhan Festival’s Vortex awards, and sits on the E-Business Program Advisory Committee at Sheridan College.

Posted by Sue Ansell at January 11, 2012 12:00 PM

Categories: Gadgets Mobility Unified Communications

Comments

John Fisher email -

As someone who is actively involved with small business start-ups as a career, I can tell you the reason. People are not as tech savy as we think.

Many people over the age of about 30 (for the record I am in my early 40's) have found ways to live without smartphones and other forms of technology and dont see a reason to be connected to Facebook or other social media and see the internet as a time waster so for them a smart phone is a waste of money.

Many clients visit my office looking to start a business want print materials and are not even comfortable with registering a business electronically or looking for basic business research online.

I very much agree with you that the average persons lack of technology comfort and experience is holding our country back economically....but until the genration gap catches up, issues like the ones you mention are going to continue. Computer and technology literacy needs to be a key focus from government, industry and the local community to improve our standards of living and increase the use of smartphones and other forms of technology.

And yes I am one of the 30% that own a smartphone (Blackberry).

Peter Wolchak email - www.backbonemag.com

I think you are entirely correct, John. It is easy to grow accustomed to my tech bubble, in which everyone I know uses a smartphone, owns multiple computers and watches most of their TV on anything but a TV.

Thank you.

Scott Burbidge email -

John: I am 50 yrs old and do not own a smart phone - but I own 2 PC's, an IPad II (non 3G) & a laptop. I alos own a GPS and 2 digital cameras. I am comfortable with most technology and use the internet over 30 hrs a week for work & pleasure.

I don't have a facebook page and am too busy to play Angry Birds. I have extensively researched many technology stocks and am heavily invested in them as I can see the explosive growth coming

The reason I don't have a smartphone is COST - not of the device but the monthly wireless fees. I pay for 5 cellphones in my family and the monthly bills exceed $335/month.

Competition in Cda would be a wonderful thing!! S.

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