It’s going to be very interesting to watch the growth of tablet computer usage during the next several months as Amazon and others are coming out with cheaper, better and faster tablets every week or so.
Here’s where things stand now according to comScore:
For the record, non-computer device usage last quarter was 6.2%, so not much is happening through August.
However, the Christmas Season sales are about to start and the prices are so low there is bound to be a noticeable increase in non-computer access to the Internet.
What this means to local advertising is also yet to be seen. The predictions are that as the Internet moves from the desktop to handheld devices, so too will consumers’ ability to learn about products, dealers and promotions as they are in their car, the mall or even a store. If this happens than local dollars should naturally move from the less documented, less read newspapers to the more targeted and cost-effective Internet.
Think too about how retailers will soon provide their sales people with tablets to help sell inside of the store.
Brand managers are getting ready by making more and more information available to dealers digitally. It’s the smart thing to do.