UK phone users addicted to screen time but not committed to fixed phone contracts – according to Ding

UK phone users spending six+ hours a day on their phones, with WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook still the most used apps

London, 16th October 2019 – Ding, the largest international mobile top-up platform, has released findings from a recently conducted piece of research that sheds some light on how mobile customers in the UK are currently using their phones. The survey provided insights into UK phone habits and mobile payment preferences, highlighting the importance of the shared economy and the encroachment of the mobile phone in British society.

I’m addicted to you – but only if we can video chat

With 56% of Brits reporting they spend four or more hours on the phone each day, within that 32% fall into 6+ hours a day – it isn’t shocking that 87% feel it is important to have control over the amount of airtime and data they are using.

If there is a silver lining to phone addiction it is that 60% reported the main reason they use their mobile phone is to stay in touch with family and friends, followed by 35% citing social media and surfing the web as their main use of their phone. In another insight into changing usage less than 2% cited they are using their smart phones to access news – begging the question of where they are feel they are consuming news.

When asked about what apps they used most often, WhatsApp ranked number one over Instagram, Facebook and Uber. With SnapChat and Viber also making an appearance.

Users share more than Ubers in the UK

Ninety-three percent of respondents with pay-as-you-go contracts, reported that they are often out of credit and had help keeping their phone in credit. In fact, a quarter said they are out of credit on average every week. While 13% look to their parents and 35% rely on their partners for top-ups, a further 53% rely on people outside their immediate family for phone credit. Pay-as-you-go customers in need of a top-up crowdfund on a monthly basis (57%) and 75% say they use apps and websites to complete transactions.

Commenting on the findings Rupert Shaw, Chief Commercial Officer at Ding said:

“Since our company’s inception in 2006 we have heard time and again that for certain segments pay-as-you-go is the preferred method of payment for mobile phones, particularly in developing markets, but now increasingly we are seeing this type of transparent rolling contract gain popularity in the UK as new generations of customers look for more control and more value from their mobile phones.”

He added:

“At Ding we strive to be the global experts in the market and provide our customers in the UK and around the world with the services they need in order to maintain their important connections to their friends and family and to live their mobile first lives seamlessly.”

Users have ghosted mobile contracts and swiped right for pay-as-you-go

Phone users in the UK were clear on their distrust for contractual agreements. Two thirds of respondents felt that by signing a contract they lose control of the services they really want and it frequently results in having to pay for services that they simply do not need.

It’s no surprise that 69% perceived pay-as-you-go to be a better value for money and allowed for greater control over only receiving requested services. The survey also showed that mobile phones are not the only products these customers use to participate in the shared economy. Close to 50% of those surveyed used pay-as-you-go for other services such as holiday accommodations, car and bike rentals.

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For further information please contact: Colette Campbell:

[email protected]/ [email protected]

Notes to editors:

About Ding

Ding www.ding.com was founded to change billions of lives by accelerating mobile access. As the number one international mobile top-up platform in the world, Ding has been keeping people connected since 2006, when it launched this first-of-a-kind service. Today, Ding’s users have successfully sent over 300 million top-ups globally, via the app, online at Ding.com, and in-store at over 600,000+ retail outlets Worldwide.

The number of prepaid mobile phones is growing and now accounts for 76% of the world’s five billion phones, with one quarter offline and in need of top-up at any one time – highlighting the need for Ding’s frictionless and instant mobile top-up. In fact, Ding delivers a top-up every second, via 500+ operators, across 140+ countries – helping families and friends around the world to stay connected.

Ding is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and has regional offices in Barcelona, Bucharest, Dhaka, Dubai, New Jersey, Miami, Paris, and San Salvador.