Not every touchscreen device is alike – or liked, according to new survey findings. Although 54 percent of Western European cell phone users think touchscreens are a nice idea, the number of touchscreen owners who say they’ll buy another slips below that 50-50 mark to 47 percent.
Apple iPhone owners are among the device owners most likely say they’ll buy another touchscreen device, announced research firm Canalys. HTC touchscreen owners were also highly satisfied. Least likely to purchase another touchscreen device: Sony Ericsson, with just 27 percent of owners reporting they’re next cell phone will use a touchscreen inteface.
Apple, Samsung and others have driven consumer awareness of touchscreen user interfaces. “It is also apparent that, with experience, a significant proportion of users have not been totally won over by some of these devices,” analyst Peter Cunningham said.
The survey also found a preference for finger-based touchscreens (38 percent) over stylus-based touchscreen phones (16 percent). The research firm noted while touchscreen interfaces offer makers a new source of revenue, the companies must find ways to keep users after they experience touchscreens.
Earlier this year Canalys announced touchscreen demand grew 282.7 percent over the previous year while keypad-based smartphone growth shrank 42 percent and keyboard-based smartphones rose just 29 percent.
