Consumers in the UK are rather wary of having to pay huge bills for using mobile-based applications. This point has been highlighted by Mobile Data Association (MDA) whose latest report on mobile usage trends indicates that the mobile internet has grown by 25 per cent in the last couple of years.

Steve Reynolds, MDA chairman, said mobile operators need to take care of a number of issues in order to speed up the growth of mobile internet use. For instance, the consumer needs a greater price transparency on the various costs connected with using the mobile internet.

He also said that text messaging has been one of the biggest successes of the mobile age. But services like IM or mobile email could be equally successful if mobile operators support its adoption by making the set-up and access easier and by clearing any kind of doubt in the minds of the consumer.

MDA is confident that mobile internet will grow by leaps and bounds once these issues are taken care of and also the internet access over mobile phones is made faster and simpler. Mobile internet needs a solid boost from it operators in order to grow, the report concludes.