70% of MENA smartphone users plan upgrade

Seventy percent of smartphone users in the Middle East and North Africa plan to upgrade their device in the next 12 months, a new survey said on Tuesday.

More than 80 percent who don't have a smartphone want one and 54 percent expect to get their first one in the next 12 months, said the poll of 3,000 people conducted by AppsArabia, the local investment fund helping to create a sustainable app development industry in the region.

It added that smartphone users have an average of 29 apps installed on their devices, with 51 percent of users saying they use apps all day long.

Nearly three in every four user said they like downloading apps that make their life easier while 57 percent said they are interested in game apps.

On average, smartphone users download six apps each month, the survey added.

In the coming 12 months, 24 percent of all smartphone users claimed they will spend more than $50 on apps.

The objective of the research, which was sponsored by Research In Motion (RIM) and conducted by Dubai based market research company Real Opinions, was to examine and highlight the business potential of apps in the Middle East.

David Ashford, general manager AppsArabia, said: "Consumer consumption of Apps in the MENA region is growing at a fantastic rate; however, it is very different to other parts of the world and that's what makes this research so valuable.

"We need to ensure that the apps that are developed are what people living in this region want to consume, rather than what developers want to build."

He said the investment fund received hundreds of proposals for new apps every month.