Inhance Technology, which offers smartphone protection software, has published new research that shows 21% of UK consumers are more worried about being mugged for their smartphone or tablet than they were 12 months ago.
The figure is higher for women (26% feel more vulnerable) and for young adults aged 18-34 (30%). In the USA, 27% of consumers are more concerned about being robbed for their mobile device than they were 12 months ago.
It’s not just the loss of a physical device that troubles consumers: 74% of UK consumers believe the content on their mobile device is as valuable as the phone or tablet itself.
Paul Prendergast, CEO of Inhance Technology, said “The findings have serious implications for mobile retailers, carriers and insurance companies in terms of their warranty and insurance programs. Today’s smart consumer wants a device protection policy that will not only replace the device if lost, stolen or damaged but protect the sensitive and valuable data contained in smartphones and tablets.”
The Inhance Technology research, which was conducted by iReach Insights with a thousand UK respondents in the UK, found that 46% of consumers said they were more likely to buy a mobile device protection plan if it included an app to protect their content.
[Inhance Technology: Key USA and UK Consumer Concerns for Lost, Stolen and Damaged Mobile Devices]