Ericsson revealed the results of its study about 3G smartphone users in Turkey focusing on the tendencies, habits and expectations from a 4G network. The study titled "2014 Ericsson ConsumerLab 3G User Tendencies and Expectations" was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 people who use mobile Internet on their smartphones at least once a month. The study covered 25 provinces of Turkey.Ziya Erdem, Ericsson's Country Manager of Turkey, said this is the fifth time that the company conducted the study, and found that 3G user activity continues to increase with 3G users follow new trends in technology very closely. The data gathered from the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) shows that there are over 27 million people who use Internet via their smartphones in Turkey. The user activity of these costumers has outrun the user activities in the U.K., the U.S. and Germany. "We believe that although Turkey's mobile broadband penetration is low comparing other countries, Internet usage via smartphones is a hot trend among Turkish users," Erdem said. As Ericsson's study reveals, Turkish people are anxiously waiting for 4G technology to be introduced in their country. Erdem added, "We see 4G as the future of smartphones and we are looking forward to the introduction of 4G in Turkey that will start a new era."According to the study, Turkish users are enthusiastic about technology and always want to own the latest device on the market. A total of 43 percent of users state that smartphones are important parts of their life and 37 percent of users pay attention to the speed of the Internet rather than price while deciding on operators. Of the participants, 40 percent prefer to buy the latest smartphones on the market. As the study shows, mobile service usage is very active in Turkey, which has outrun countries such as the U.K., U.S. and Germany with the usage of social media, instant messaging and downloading applications. For example, 91 percent of smartphone users in Turkey connect with social networks at least once a week. This number is 81 percent in the U.S., 77 percent in the U.K. and 70 percent in Germany. The usage of voice/video calls and instant messaging of Turkish smartphone users are higher than many other countries. These Internet-based applications complete traditional phone calls and SMSs (short message service); however, they have not replaced traditional communication yet. A total of 56 percent of users use both SMS and instant message via the Internet every day. Only 6 percent of people solely use Internet-based messaging every day. The same result applies for call services with 38 percent of participants using video calls via the Internet and traditional calls via operators every day. Moreover, only 5 percent of the participants solely use video calls every day, and 4.4 out of every 10 messages and 3.3 out of every 10 calls that are sent by communication services are delivered via the Internet.With these percentages, Turkey also outruns countries such as the U.S., U.K., Sweden and Denmark. The study also found that 17 percent of users still choose to use traditional operator calls and SMSs. It showed that traditional voice calls and SMSs still play an important role in people's lives. Of the users, 41 percent say they might consider paying more money for better quality and faster connection. A total of 46 percent of the participants who have mobile data packages say their Internet limits are more than enough while 40 percent of users lean towards to limitless mobile data packages. Since four out of every 10 users have heard of 4G technology in Turkey, the study concludes that Turkish users are excited about 4G technology.Their interest in 4G is not related to their dissatisfaction with 3G, however. They merely perceive 4G as a more advanced technology and it is believed to have a higher Internet speed. The study found that 49 percent of smartphone users in Turkey are eager to subscribe to 4G and 35 percent want to have a smartphone that supports 4G, and people between ages 30 and 39 are the most eager to adopt 4G. They were followed by the 40-49 age group and the 25-29 age group. More than half of the users, 58 percent, expect 4G to be used in Turkey by the end of 2015. Of the users, 48 percent say they will use 4G within six months when the technology is implemented in Turkey.