Attitude and mindset are far more important criteria than gender or age in mobile Internet usage, according to a research titled Cell Surfing 2008. Hong Kong-based Buongiorno, a provider of digital value-added services, commissioned the research, to understand users' surfing habits on mobile phones.

With changing technology, the nature of downloading has also witnessed a change. The research shows that there is a shift from downloading ring tones and wallpapers to downloading entertainment and intelligent content such as games, music, videos, and social networking.

Flexibility and mobility have compelled users to opt for mobile Internet vis- -vis PC browsing. A research into the human psyche further classifies users as embracers and pragmatists. Embracers are the technology-savvy people who use mobile Internet not only to stay connected but also to expand their horizons with information and entertainment despite battery limitation. By contrast, pragmatists consist of those segments of users who browse the Internet just to keep themselves updated.

Milind Pathak, co-chief executive officer and country manager of Buongiorno India, said, "In India, the number of people accessing the Internet using a mobile device is increasing rapidly, and this is set to rise exponentially in the next five years as technology progress makes mobile Internet connections faster and cheaper." Pathak is hopeful that we'll soon reach European standards of cell surfing, where one in three users connects to the mobile Internet today.