tyntec and YouGov ran a survey among 2,000 people in the UK and Germany in early 2012, which shows that SMS is the most-used feature among smartphone users – clearly ahead of apps and mobile email. These and other results referring to the mobile use of social networks are summarized in this presentation.

1. Survey: Mobile Social
Networking on the Rise
Online survey by tyntec and YouGov among 2,000 participants in UK
and Germany (Jan 27 – Feb 1, 2012), aged between 16 and 60

2. Introduction p. 3
UK and Germany p. 4
UK users only p. 14
German users only p. 24
Conclusion p. 34
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3. Have you always had the sneaking suspicion that
smartphone users are still in love with SMS?
The proof is now conclusive! tyntec and YouGov ran a survey of 2,000 people in
the UK and Germany, which shows that besides voice calls, SMS is the most0used
feature among smartphone users – clearly ahead of apps and mobile email.
These and other results referring to the mobile use of social networks for UK and
Germany are summarized in this presentation.
For more information about how to integrate SMS services into social networks, IP0
based messaging services and other web2.0 applications, please go to
www.tyntec.com.
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4. UK & Germany
4

5. Survey summary: UK & Germany
SMS as key feature for smartphone users
Taking a look at the two major mobile markets in Europe, both UK and German
survey participants stated that SMS is currently the most used smartphone
feature 0 excluding voice calls. A finding which might be surprising as 48%
admitted to owning a smartphone.
SMS was named by 67% of all participants as one of their two most0used
smartphone features. Apps came in second at 44% and mobile email third with a
33% response rate.
55% of smartphone owners continue to use SMS even if other communication
channels are available.
Perhaps surprisingly, 32% of all respondents stated they were not aware that
free or low0cost messaging services existed, despite 37% being interested in the
use of IP0based messaging services.
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6. Survey summary: UK & Germany (cont.)
Mobile social networking
Mobile social networking is still emerging although 56% of all respondents now
use social networks on their phone.
68% would consider using SMS features such as contact requests and reminders,
if they were available on social networks. 48% of all respondents would also
consider using SMS for updates and SMS chat, including 39% who would be open
to using SMS for direct messaging.
The idea of having just a single mobile phone number on which users can be
reached, is attractive to more than two thirds (62%) of all respondents.
6

7. 7
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

8. 8
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

9. 9
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

10. 10
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

11. 11
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

12. 12
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

13. 13
Users UK & Germany; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

14. UK users
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15. Survey summary: UK only
SMS as key feature for smartphone users
More than half (52%) of UK residents now own a smartphone. But 50% of
smartphone owners continue to use SMS, even if other communication channels
are available.
SMS was named by 62% of participants as one of their two most0used
smartphone features besides phone calls. Apps came in second at 46% and
mobile email third with a 39% response rate.
Over one third (36%) of all respondents stated they were not aware that free or
low0cost messaging services existed, despite more than one quarter (28%) being
interested in their use.
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16. Survey summary: UK only (cont.)
Mobile social networking
UK residents (60%) use social networks more frequently on their phone than
Germans (51%). Most users (18%) check their networks between two and five
times per day on the move.
55% would consider using SMS features, such as contact requests and
reminders, if they were available on social networks. 50% of all respondents
would also consider using SMS for updates and SMS chat, including 35% who
would be open to using SMS for direct messaging.
Whereas German respondents showed strong interest (73%) in One Number
services, UK residents seem to have less issues handling several mobile phone
numbers on which they can be reached. At least more than half (53%) are
interested in such an service.
16

17. 17
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

18. 18
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

19. 19
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

20. 20
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

21. 21
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

22. 22
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

23. 23
UK users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

24. German users
24

25. Survey summary: Germany only
SMS as key feature for smartphone users
Compared to the UK, smartphones are still less widely spread: only 43% of
Germans now one a smartphone. In the UK it’s 52%.
SMS was named by 73% of participants as one of their two most0used
smartphone features besides voice calls. Apps came in second at 42% and office
functions third with a 32% response rate.
62% of smartphone owners continue to use SMS even if other communication
channels are available.
Almost half of respondents (47%) were very interested in free or low0cost
messaging services. More than one quarter (27%) stated they were not aware
that IP0based messaging services existed.
25

26. Survey summary: Germany only (cont.)
Mobile social networking
51% of all respondents now use social networks on their phone.
More than 75% would consider using SMS features such as reminders, chat,
status updates or contact requests, if they were available on social networks,
including 44% who would be open to using SMS for direct messaging.
Germans also showed a strong interest (73%) in having just a single mobile
phone number on which they could be reached.
26

27. 27
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

28. 28
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

29. 29
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

30. 30
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

31. 31
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

32. 32
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

33. 33
German users; souce: tyntec & YouGov (February 2012)

34. Conclusions
The survey results are indicative of the fact that, despite all the hype
surrounding mobile social networking and IP0based communication, SMS is still a
winner with smartphone users. Mobile social networking is still emerging as
a communications mechanism and SMS has a strong role to play here.
The results clearly show that social network companies in particular should
consider integrating services such as SMS into their offering, as there is an
obvious desire by consumers for text updates and alerts linked to their profiles.
This would allow half of the population who don’t use smartphones to receive
updates and reminders from their social networks.
Not only this, but VoIP, internet messaging and cloud telephony services
would be more attractive to the mainstream if combined with SMS0based
services. This would allow users to communicate with their contacts universally,
regardless of whether they have a smartphone or use a specific app.
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35. About tyntec
What is tyntec?
tyntec is a mobile interaction specialist, enabling
mobile service providers, enterprises and internet
companies to integrate mobile telecom services.
What does tyntec provide?
Universal telecom services – voice, SMS, numbers –
services that work from anywhere, on any device.
What’s our value proposition?
tyntec reduces the complexity involved in accessing
the complex telecoms world with high quality, easy0
to0integrate products, on a global scale.
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36. Our contact details
For more information,
please contact:
UK: +44 207 436 0283
Germany: +49 89 202 451 202
Singapore: +65 6478 3020
sales@tyntec.com
German offices: UK offices: Singapore office:
Hofmannstrasse 25027 11 Hope Street tyntec Ltd.
81379 Douglas IM1 1AQ 51 Goldhill Plaza
Munich Isle of Man #11001/02
Singapore 308900
Wittekindstrasse 105 6 St Andrew Street
44139 EC4A 3AE
Dortmund London
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