Demand for smartphone apps in the UK has seemingly saturated and is on the verge of decline, new study claims.
According to Deloitte, one in three or around 31 per cent of UK smartphone users do not download any apps on their device in a typical month. The number has increased from less than one in five as reported in 2013.
The research revealed that the average number of downloaded apps per month has fallen “significantly” in 2014 to just 1.82, from 2.32 reported in the same period last year. Almost nine in ten Brits admit they never opt to spend money on purchasing apps or other smartphone content, the report said.
Head of research for technology, media and telecommunications at Deloitte, Paul Lee said app store downloads in the UK is reaching a limit and that each additional new smartphone user has less inclination to download apps, either out of apathy or due to affordability.
The alarming statistics however do not mean that the app market itself is shrinking. The research firm claims that the decrease in app download rate can be attributed to an increase in the number of smartphone owners over the age of 50, who seem to be less interested in downloading additional software stuff.
Lee said new users mainly use their smartphones mostly for text messaging and that number of younger age Brits who uses IM (instant messaging) services like WhatsApp and WeChat declines very steeply with age.
According to Lee, growing number of long-term smartphone owners, who already have their preferred selection of apps installed, is also one of the reasons behind falling app download numbers.
Recent research by Google however claims that the Britain app development industry will grow over £30 billion by 2025.
[Source: The Financial Times]
