Apps: Third of smartphone users refuse to pay

 LONDON, UK: A new study into the application use of Smartphone owners in the UK has revealed that more than a third, 34 per cent, of Smartphone users 'never' pay for applications. Despite this, 98 per cent of Smartphone owners taking part in the study had downloaded free applications on to their mobile device.The study polled 1,472 Smartphone owners across the UK, and was conducted by the company behind the MyVoucherCodes App. The research was conducted in a bid to discover more about usage habits of Smartphone owners and how the cost of apps impacts their decision to download them.

Respondents to the study were initially asked, “How often to you download paid-for apps?” to which a third, 34 per cent, of respondents answered 'never.' Just a fifth, 21 per cent, of respondents answered 'regularly;' whilst the majority, 45 per cent, answered 'occasionally.'

Those who claimed to 'never' purchase paid-for apps were asked why this was the case. The majority, 46 per cent, cited that they felt 'ripped off' when having to pay for Smartphone apps; whilst a third, 31 per cent, of those asked simply felt that all Smartphone applications 'should be free'. 13 per cent stated that they 'couldn't afford' to purchase apps.

Respondents to the study were also asked, 'Do you think that paid-for apps are of a better quality than free apps?' More than half, 58 per cent, of respondents answered 'no', whilst 12 per cent said that paid-for apps are 'occasionally' better than free apps.According to the research, just over a tenth, 12 per cent, of the respondents who took part in the study had downloaded more 'paid apps' than 'free apps' on their Smartphone. However, in contrast, 79 per cent, of the respondents admitted to having downloaded more 'free apps' than 'paid apps'. The remaining 9 per cent had equal numbers of apps, or were unsure.