Digital objects on wireless, high-bandwidth web

Grader A: partial

Digital objects were distributed over the internet in 2009, but mostly over wired broadband. Wireless distribution was growing: mobile broadband passed 600 million subscriptions (about 13% of 4.6 billion mobile subscriptions) and 56% of Americans had used wireless internet (including home Wi-Fi). The web was not yet ever-present and high-bandwidth on wireless.

Test: At least 20% of users receiving media over high-bandwidth wireless: mobile broadband about 13% of mobile subscriptions at end 2009; above 5%, below mainstream. Mainstream around 2011-2013.

• ITU press release: mobile subscriptions (2010-02-15): Over 600 million mobile broadband subscriptions at end 2009, of about 4.6 billion mobile subscriptions.
• Wireless Internet Use (Pew Research Center) (2009-07-22): 56% of Americans had accessed the internet wirelessly.

Grader B: hit

Digital media reached users over the internet, and wireless access (Wi-Fi and 3G) was used by 56% of US adults by April 2009, with Kindle and iPhone downloading content over the air. 'Ever-present, high-bandwidth' overstates 2009 coverage.

Test: User test: 56% of US adults used wireless internet in 2009.

• Pew: Wireless Internet Use (2009-07-22): 56% of US adults had gone online wirelessly (39% via laptop, 32% via mobile device) by April 2009; 19% mobile daily.
• Wikipedia: Amazon Kindle (accessed 2026-09-28): Kindle Nov 2007, 6-inch 167 ppi e-ink; Amazon e-books passed paperbacks Q4 2010 and print overall early 2011.