'Turning point reached' with web-capable mobile phones

The nature of services offered by mobile phones that provide access to the internet can be considered a turning point in the development of the UK's web infrastructure, an expert claims.

Figures from the Nielsen Company have revealed that the internet is now accessed on mobile phones by ten million people in Britain and there was a ten per cent rise in usage between the second and third quarters of this year alone.

Edd Dawson, editor of specialist website broadband.co.uk, said the turning point is that consumers can now get the experience they expect from their mobile phone.

In addition, he said it is often more flexible than using a computer or laptop, whether the user wants to check their email or use a VoIP solution.

Mr Dawson said: "If I've got my iPhone with me it is much quicker to check a website on my phone than it is to go and get a laptop and boot it up."

Sales of smartphones grew by nearly 30 per cent in the second quarter of this year, while sales of regular mobile phones fell by six per cent during the same period, according to figures from Gartner.