VoIP users unwilling to wait

The importance for businesses to offer UK internet users high-speed, efficient and reliable websites has been emphasised by the findings of a new survey.

The number of UK businesses taking up broadband internet connections is increasing all the time, as they realise how benefits such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony can reduce costs and boost productivity.

Research carried out by 1&1 Internet Ltd reveals that internet users will not be willing to hang around if a page is taking too long to load, with a quarter prepared to look elsewhere after just a ten-second wait.

If a business' website wasn't working, just four per cent of those who encountered the error would take the time to report it, with nearly two thirds automatically searching for an alternative.

Andreas Gauger, 1&1 Internet chief executive, explained: "It is no surprise how strongly consumers feel about poorly performing websites when they suffer significant stress from using them.

"As users become more dismissive of slower sites, SMEs must ensure that their market has instant access to their products and services."