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Sunday, August 8, 2021

UK adults spent more time online last year than other Europeans

Smartphone usage almost four times greater than computer

Ofcom's Online Nation 2021 report shows that UK adults spent more time online (via computers, smartphones or tablets) in 2020 than people in Germany, France or Spain.

It was an unprecedented year, when the coronavirus pandemic saw an increase in people relying on online services for communication, entertainment, culture, shopping, work and study. However, the average time spent online per user per day only increased by 9 minutes year-on-year.

The annual report from the independent regulator and competition authority for UK communications notes that adults in the UK spent 3 hours and 37 minutes online each day in 2020. That’s over an hour longer than people in Germany or France and 30 minutes more than Spain – but an hour less than adults in the USA.

Figures from September 2020 show that internet usage via smartphone is almost four times greater than online access on a computer: UK internet users spent an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes a day online via their phones but just 37 minutes on a computer.

Overall, the UK’s online shopping bill increased by 48% from 2019 to nearly £113 billion last year. (The previous four years had seen an average annual increase of 13%.) During lockdown in March 2020, 35% of all retail spending was taking place online – up from 20% in 2019. Spending on and in mobile apps during 2020 was up to almost £2.45 billion, with Tinder, Disney+, YouTube and Netflix generating the most income.

A sizeable minority of households still have no internet access via fixed-line or mobile devices: in March 2021, 6% of homes – around one and a half million – had no way to get online.

Full details of the report can be viewed online at ofcom.org.uk

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Opinion Articles

The cost of European roaming needn't be a worry

Mark Bridge writes:

Today’s podcast feature is a personal look at the cost of mobile ‘roaming’ in France.

At the beginning of July 2011 the rate for European roaming charges fell to a maximum of 38p per minute (incl. VAT) for calls made while abroad in the EU – and 12p per minute for calls received. There’s also a maximum 12p charge for sending text messages.

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Mark Bridge writes:

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Power your laptop by taking a walk

Rosanne Skirble of voanews.com writes:

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a technology that turns human motion into electricity.

In this week's journal Nature Communications, they describe how to power a cell phone or other mobile device - like a laptop computer or GPS system - by simply taking a walk.

Author: The Fonecast
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Nokia prices: how low can you go?

Mark Bridge writes:

This week Nokia has announced the latest iteration of its Symbian software platform: Symbian Belle, which follows the alphabetical theme started by Symbian Anna. Whether we'll reach Symbian Zoe, Zara or Zsa-Zsa before Symbian support ends in 2016 is another matter. But I digress.

Along with Symbian Belle came three new phones - yet it was two other Nokia phones announced from Kenya on Thursday that caught my eye.

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Don't bother looking for a dramatically reduced HP TouchPad in the UK

Mark Bridge writes:

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