New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) Despite increase in sales of smartphones in India, the rate of app download has showed a downward trend due to weak network penetration beside low screen size and resolution, a report revealed.

According to Alibaba Mobile Business Group’s 9Apps report, Indian users install not more than 32 apps on an average which is much lower than the global average of 42.

Over 55 per cent of UC Browser users are using a smartphone less than Rs 10,000 and over 40 per cent of Indian users’ still access internet on screen resolutions less than 480*854.

Power drain and limited capacity on these low-end smartphones emerge as the biggest concerns, hindering increased app usage, the report added.

Commenting on the report, Ebrahim Popat, Country Manager, 9Apps, “India’s mobile internet generation is young and vibrant with seven in 10 app users under the age of 25. The growing trend of budget smartphones has also been seen to affect app downloads. Despite being value for money, they undermine the basic web experience due to limited features and capabilities. Also, budget phones come with smaller screens and less powerful hardware. We, at 9Apps, expect that Indian users will install more and more apps on their phones as Moore’s Law makes high-end smartphones affordable to the masses.”

“Frail network infrastructure is also a deterrent. Nearly 60 per cent of Indian users download apps under 2G network. Only a small portion of users enjoy 4G connections when downloading apps. Weak network connectivity undermines a users’ willingness to try out new apps, and can hinder growth of the Indian app market,” he added.

UNI ASH RN 1433