Again, taking a fresh look at the mobile email survey I looked at a section where we asked for comments on why people liked mobile email more than email on a desktop or laptop and vice versa.  Here is a summary of the responses (with some representative quotes) from the 1,000 plus written responses we received:

People like mobile email because:

  • It’s portable, not tied down
  • Kills downtime
  • “Wireless service faster than dial-up on my home computer.”
  • “I don’t have a computer.”
  • “You can check anytime and get rid of junk email”

People like email on a computer because:

  • Easier to view/read (bigger screen)
  • Easier to write (bigger keyboard)
  • It’s cheaper (perception that mobile email is free -- compared to SMS which users pay for)
  • Time – it does not take as long
  • Easier to click and respond
  • Access speed (for high-speed internet access users)
  • Can open attachments
  • Can leverage full computer functionality
  • Can print
  • Easier to search archives
  • Easier to concentrate
  • Does not drain the battery on my mobile phone