PC users continue to drift towards connected devices

A new report from The NPD Group claims that online activities in the US, that used to be primarily accessed by consumers on their PCs, has shifted to mobile devices.

According to the Market Research firm’s Connected Intelligence Application and Convergence Report, 37% of consumers who used to access content on their PCs switched to their tablets and smartphones.

General internet browsing and checking up on Facebook make up the top two activities that consumers have shifted from their PCs to their tablets and smartphones.

27% of tablet owners say they used their PC less frequently for accessing the internet, with 20% claiming they use their it less for accessing Facebook. 27% of smartphone owners have decreased both activities on their PCs because they now use their smartphone instead.

Consumers are still using their computers for many of the core PC-centric activities, but the tablet and smartphone are gaining traction. Internet browsing is still highest among PC owners at 75%, smartphones at 61%, and tablets at 53%. Facebook interaction follows the same rank with PC owners at 63%, 55% for smartphone owners and 39% among tablet owners.

“Despite these shifts in behaviour, computers will remain the fundamental content creation device in consumer’s tool box for many years to come,” said John Buffone, director of devices, Connected Intelligence.

“Consumers, however, are switching their entertainment-centric behaviours to tablets, smartphones, and connected TVs at warp speed.  During 2013 this trend will be further perpetuated as more mobile devices become enabled with screen sharing technologies, allowing users to bridge their mobile devices to their TV screens.”

You can read more about the report over on The NPD Group’s site.