Line tops III app usage survey in Taiwan

2016/02/05

Line is the most popular social networking app in Taiwan, according to a survey released Feb. 2 by Taipei City-based Market Intelligence and Consulting Institute under the Institute for Information Industry.

Owned by South Korea’s Naver Corp., Line trumped Facebook, YouTube, WeChat and Instagram, reflecting the popularity of social networking apps with local smartphone users. A total of 80.9 percent of respondents use such apps, followed by 35. 3 percent for mobile games, 31.8 percent for information and news and 30.1 percent for audio-video.

MICI analyst Liu Chia-ping said the results show that social networking apps are an indispensable part of daily life in Taiwan. “They help people stay in touch with their friends and family anywhere and anytime.”

This trend is further illustrated by the fact that 40.1 percent of respondents spend more than 30 minutes per day on social networking apps, while 39.4 percent spend 10 to 30 minutes. In addition, every smartphone user in Taiwan has downloaded 16 apps on average, with six used each day and nine per week.

The survey also revealed that 78.9 percent of respondents use apps for convenience and information, 71.9 percent for entertainment and 34.5 percent for killing time.

“Apps meet different needs spanning communication, education, financial transactions and shopping,” Liu said, adding that they are likely to continue growing in popularity going forward.

Consumer loyalty is also major issue with users of apps for mobile games, matchmaking, books and comics, according to Liu. “Developers have to keep innovating if they are to remain relevant with consumers,” she said.

Conducted from Oct. 29 to Nov.11, 2015, the survey involved 1,390 valid responses at a confidence level of 95 percent and margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.63 percent.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=242078&ctNode=2194&mp=9)