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February 10, 2012

By Beecher Tuttle

TMCnet Contributor

 

The vast majority of mobile phone subscribers hold network operators responsible for the quality of their mobile video experience, according to a recent OnDevice Research study conducted on behalf of Mobixell (News - Alert) Networks.

Of the 1,000 mobile users polled, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) believe operators to be most responsible for mobile video quality issues like video stalling, buffering and delayed streaming.

Respondents also indicated that they are willing to take their business elsewhere if service providers fail to deliver consistent mobile video service. Nearly 45 percent of respondents said that they would consider switching to another operator due to slow browsing speed, while another 24 percent indicated that sub-par video quality or consistent buffering would entice them to make a move to a competing service provider.

In addition, an average of 46 percent of mobile users conveyed their frustration with videos that take too long to play or get interrupted continually.

"This survey highlights the importance that mobile subscribers attribute to video quality and the steps they would consider taking when it is unsatisfactory," Noam Green, VP marketing at Mobixell, noted in a statement.

"New mobile devices and 4G networks will further inflate mobile data demand and, therefore, congestion, in the coming years," he added. "To continue to meet user expectations for continuous, no-buffer video, operators are embracing video optimization with real-time congestion prediction."

As Green mentioned, the mass migration to next-generation networks and 4G-capable mobile devices will only increase the demand for mobile video. More than nine out of 10 respondents said that a higher quality network performance would entice them to play more games, stream more videos and download more files.

And as proof that mobile video has become an addiction for many consumers, a total of 36 percent of respondents said that they stream video using their mobile device while in their own home, even though wired broadband or WiFi (News - Alert) options may be available.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Stefanie Mosca

 

 

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