The saying “be careful what you wish for” could be sage advice for British households hoping for mobile phones, tablets, and game consoles this holiday season. The Mirror reported that six in 10 homes already have as many as 20 connected devices competing for connection, but Christmas wish lists continue to include top tech gifts.
According to a recent Vodafone poll of 2,000 British parents with children aged 2-18, Christmas wish lists include “wireless headphones, wireless speakers, and smart lighting systems.” Beyond making a list and checking it twice, the head of households might also have another headache for Christmas: WiFi overload.
“Thirty years ago, the only tech issue households really had to worry about at Christmas was making sure every toy had batteries,” said a Vodafone spokesperson. “These days, with smart tech available for every room in the house, and everyone having HD-streaming devices in their pockets, homes need a fast and reliable internet connection that reaches all corners of the home.”
Vodafone’s study also reported that 48 percent of respondents said that family and friend gatherings around the holidays “significantly slow” internet speeds, with 28 percent fearing their current WiFi won’t deliver. And 58 percent of survey participants think a strong WiFi connection has become “imperative” to a successful December 25.
How important is a WiFi connection this holiday season? Vodafone’s study shows that 37 percent of participants admit to frustration when they have trouble connecting at home, with 18 percent becoming “furious” when trying to watch a video that’s “buffering or stuttering.” Hopefully, we can all be thankful for the good this year, even if WiFi is on the naughty list.
Top 10 Tech Gifts This Christmas, according to The Mirror:
- Mobile phone
- Tablet
- Games console
- Smart watch
- Wireless headphones
- Educational toys
- Wireless speakers
- Smart lighting
- Voice assistant devices, e.g., Alexa
- Children’s music players
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