Rogers Innovation Report reveals top technology trends and predictions for 2013 and beyond

TORONTO, Dec. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - The love affair between Canadians and their smartphones intensified in 2012. According to the latest Rogers Innovation Report, commissioned by Vision Critical and released today by Rogers Communications, Nomophobia - the state of stress caused by being away from your smartphone - has gripped Canadian smartphone users. Sixty five per cent say they feel naked without their smartphone and Internet access. A little over half sleep with their device next to them, and 82 per cent use their smartphone in the bathroom. Over half say they check their mobile device before brushing their teeth in the morning.

Looking ahead, these Canadians predict a surge in attachment to their mobile devices and wireless connectivity. Eighty per cent believe people will choose their wireless device to go online versus their desktop computer.

"Consumers are absolutely passionate about their online connections. And, that's only expected to increase as technology advances," said Reade Barber, Vice President, Mobile and Fixed Internet at Rogers Communications. "From mobile banking and work flexibility, to downloading the latest e-book or watching the big game on the go, Canadians are doing more online today and will be even more connected in 2013 and beyond and as they sign up for the fastest Internet speeds and the latest connected technologies."

According to those surveyed, the top technology trends and predictions include: 

Canadians watch more TV and movies anyplace: Over half (52 per cent) said they increased the amount of TV and movies they watched over the Internet at home in 2012. Men were almost twice as likely as women to watch TV and movies on their mobile devices while on the go. Eighty-six per cent of young adults and 43 per cent of those surveyed caught Gangnam Style on YouTube. Over the next five years, the majority of those surveyed (65 per cent) expect to have seamless connections that allow them to go from room to room without missing a second of a TV show, movie or game.

Canadians to get more time back in their day: Most feel that wireless network speeds have improved in the last year and by 2017, almost half expect to save at least two hours a day by using faster home and mobile Internet.

BYOD - Bring Your Own Device - on the rise: Over half (55 per cent) said they were able to use the device of their choice at work or for work-related purposes in 2012. Seventy-two per cent believe that the majority of Canadians will be able to use their preferred mobile device at the office within the next two years.

More Canadians to work from home thanks to cloud services and faster mobile speeds: Fifty-nine per cent of respondents predict that over the next two years Cloud services—combined with faster mobile networks— will mean more Canadians will work from home.

Canadians making more mobile payments: More than one in ten used an app to pay for a purchase in 2012. The majority of those surveyed (67 per cent) think that within two years most Canadians will use mobile devices to pay for purchases and save money.

More digital and less paper - increased use of e-books and online magazines: In 2012, 10 per cent of those surveyed downloaded a racy novel to a mobile device - and must have liked it - since the majority (78 per cent) think e-book sales will explode. Expect more room in the recycling bin as 77 per cent predict more Canadians will do their magazine reading on their tablets in 2013.

Buffering to be as old school as dial up Internet:  In 2012, ten per cent of respondents said they updated to faster mobile Internet speeds, signing up for the next gen network LTE, and 22 per cent said they upgraded to an LTE device. That is expected to jump, with 80 per cent predicting that more Canadians will sign up for the fastest internet speeds available in 2013. The result? The strong majority (71 per cent) predict that buffering on a wireless device will be as old school as dial up Internet. And in the next five years, more than three quarters (76 per cent) believe the overwhelming majority of Canadians will download files in seconds using the fastest mobile Internet technology in the world.

All about integration - technology ecosystems like Windows 8 gaining ground: The majority of those surveyed (82 per cent) believe that in 2013, integrated technology systems that seamlessly connect two or more devices, will increase in popularity. These include mobile Internet ecosystems like Mac computers integrated with iPhone or Windows 8 software from your desktop at work or home and/or tablets integrated with Windows 8 smartphones.

To view our Rogers Innovation Report Infographic, http://redboard.rogers.com/rirexplores/

For full report results, http://slideshare.net/Rogers/rogers-innovation-2012-year-end-trends-official-15729268

About the survey
From November 15th to November 19th, 2012, an online survey was conducted among a sample of 1,040 Canadians that own and use a smartphone or tablet, who are Angus Reid Forum panel members. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current age, gender and region Census data to ensure a representative sample. The margin of error on the full base — which measures sampling variability — of 1,040 respondents is +/- 3.1%. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high speed Internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit rogers.com.

SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.

Image with caption: "The Rogers Innovation Report reveals that the love affair between Canadians and their smartphones intensified in 2012 with 55 per cent of Canadians checking their mobile device before brushing their teeth in the morning. (CNW Group/Rogers Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121227_C3440_PHOTO_EN_22216.jpg