PC data card use grew 163 percent in 2008
April 10, 2009
Americans in the last year rapidly adopted the use of PC data cards to connect to wireless high speed internet service for mobile internet access, according to a report released today by technology research company comScore.
Although use of wireless data cards grew by 163 percent over the course of 2008, the rate of growth declined to just 5 percent in the final quarter of the year, as consumers pulled back on spending when the recession hit, the company said.
Mobile broadband employs cellular telecommunication networks, where users pay subscription fees for access. These high speed wireless networks are different than wi-fi access, which depends upon the availability of short range "hot spots."
PC data card adoption grew by 157 percent in 2007, a confirmation of the market's strong growth trajectory, comScore said.
The 5 percent growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2008 followed growth of 22 percent in the third quarter, the highest growth rate since a 28 percent growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2007, the report shows.
"The PC data card market is clearly in the early stages of its adoption curve, with the overall number of subscribers multiplying in the past few years," said Serge Matta, comScore senior vice president.
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