UK tablet ownership grows more than fivefold in 2011

Ofcom report shows uptake of connected devices continues to skyrocket

The rate of tablet ownership in the UK grew more than fivefold last year while two in five UK adults now own a smartphone.

The annual Ofcom Communications Market Report, which was published this week, finds that total UK comms industry revenue fell 0.3 per cent to £53.2bn in 2011. The telecoms market shrank 1.9 per cent to £39.7bn.

The way we communicate is shifting towards written forms, with 68 per cent of UK citizens contacting friends via a text-based method on a daily basis, compared with 63 per cent for voice-based forms and 49 per cent for face-to-face meetings.

The proliferation of mobile connected devices continues, with the number of adults owning a smartphone rising from 27 per cent in 2011's first quarter, to 39 per cent in Q1 2012. Just two per cent of UK households owned a tablet at the beginning of 2011, but by the opening quarter of this year that figure had risen to 11 per cent. Some 17 per cent of households plan to buy a tablet in the coming year.

Uptake is highest among the 45 to 54 age group and in households with children; the ownership levels in both these demographics stands at 16 per cent.

Entertainment emerges as the number-one reason for buying a tablet, having been cited by 56 per cent of owners. Second on the list was easy internet access on 53 per cent, followed by ease of transportation on 52 per cent. Some 45 per cent of tablet buyers admitted they had no pressing need for the device and just wanted to treat themselves.

More than a third claimed they "could not live without their tablet", while 87 per cent are satisfied with their device. The same amount claimed they mostly use their tablet at home, despite portability being a key driver of sales.