A recent survey has found that almost 90% of consumer and business mobile users would switch operators if necessary to subscribe to the new UMTS, or third generation, services of their choice.
The survey was carried out by Siemens Ireland as part of a process designed to estimate the market potential for 3G networks across Europe. Four UMTS licences are due to be issued in Ireland in May.
It found that consumers were prepared to pay 63% extra on top of their existing mobile phone bills to avail of the service of their choice. 66.6% would accept advertising if it made usage cheaper.
The corresponding figures for businesses were 46% and 62% respectively.
The service of most interest to consumers was traffic information, followed by booking and reservations services. Businesses showed most interest in a geographical information system, which would provide users with information on the shortest route to their destination.
