Estimating Consumer Inertia in Repeated Choices of Smartphones

Konferenzbeitrag

In this paper, we use a unique database on switching between mobile handsets in a sample of about 5,000 subscribers using tariffs without commitment from a single mobile operator on monthly basis between March 2012 and December 2014. We estimate discrete choice model in which we account for disutility from switching to a different operating systems and handset brands and for unobserved time-persistent preferences for operating systems and brands. Our estimation results indicate presence of significant state-dependency in the choices of operating systems and brands. We find that it is harder for consumers to switch from iOS to Android and other operating systems than from Android and other operating systems to iOS. Moreover, we find that there is significant time-persistent heterogeneity in preferences for different operating systems and brands, which also leads to state-dependent choices. We use our model to simulate market shares in the absence of switching costs and conclude that the market share of Android and smaller operating systems would increase at the expense of the market share of iOS.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: 22nd Biennial Conference of the International Telecommunications Society (ITS): "Beyond the Boundaries: Challenges for Business, Policy and Society", Seoul, Korea, 24th-27th June, 2018

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets ; Regulation and Industrial Policy: General ; Telecommunications
• Subject: Smartphones ; Consumer Inertia ; Switching Costs ; Mixed Logit ; iOS ; Android

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Grzybowski, Lukasz ; Nicolle, Ambre
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): International Telecommunications Society (ITS)
• (where): Calgary
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/190389
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET