Survey: Femtocell Technology Finds Appeal With the Masses

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Commissioned by the Femto Forum to conduct a custom consumer research in the U.S., Parks Associates, an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and service, announced the results of the most comprehensive survey ever conducted.

Regarding the impact of femtocells on consumer satisfaction and loyalty, the study revealed that 44 percent of the consumers who were likely to consider a change of operators within the coming year, indicated a preference for the current operator, if offered a femtocell. Likewise 35 percent of consumers in multi-operator households preferred to consolidate their services around a single provider, if offered a femtocell.

Although over 90 percent of those who found the technology appealing expressed willingness to pay upfront for the device, the survey found that the demand was highest when the device costs were in the $20-$50 range, and lowest when the cost exceeded $300.About 45 percent were willing to buy the device when it was in the $50-$100 range.

“The clear message from this research is that femtocells have widespread appeal and consumers are willing to pay for them. There is a major opportunity for operators to gain new subscribers by taking over the contracts of whole families, and by better retaining their existing subscribers,” Harry Wang, director of mobile product research, Parks Associates, said.

Parks Associates’ research director John Barrett presented the results of the study at the Femtocells World Summit conference in London on 23 June at 2:10pm. A slidepack summarizing the results will be available on the Femto Forum Web site after the event.

Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.

From the article, "Survey: Femtocell Technology Finds Appeal With the Masses" by Mini Swamy