Latest research shows consumers in the UK are eager to adopt new technology

Astonishing growth rates in certain IT sectors

3 July 2006 12:26 GMT / By Amber Maitland

It seems that consumers are jumping on the latest technological innovations available, according to market research firm GfK.

GfK released its biannual UK Technology Barometer, which reveals the major trends in the IT market.

The fastest growing categories were smartphones, webcams, communication devices and storage products, while the major trends are convergence, the growth of wireless, and the continued fall of prices.

More and more, consumers are realising the convenience of devices that have more than one function. The GfK IT Business Group Director Jean Littolff explains, "Not only are we looking at convergence within IT sectos, but also a blurring of lines between IT, consumer electronics, telecoms, and photo areas".

Sales of multifunctional devices grew by 17%, outstripping scanners at a ratio of more than 6 to 1. In stand-alone printing, only small photo printers are doing well.

Smartphones have grown by a similar rate, whereas single-function PDAs are less appealing and sales have declined by 38.3%.

Wireless usage is growing across the UK at a rate of knots, with sales of 3G cards growing by 475%; these are mostly through business channels. In the consumer market, sales of Wi-Fi routers have grown by 77%.

The fall in price of notebooks may account for their ever-growing popularity; the average price has dropped from £808 in the first half of 2005 to £686 in the first half of 2006.

Littolff says, "With price barriers falling, the major obstacle preventing the average consumer from enjoying the sexy technology long enjoyed by business users is gone, and little seems to impede the anti-Luddite sentiment of the British spending public".

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