The Internet can be used for nearly everything these days. While a few years ago, many of us would spend hours on the net looking at friends' photos, reading the news and checking our emails, the list of uses has expanded. Yes, these things are still possible on computers, but now we can also rent movies, read books, pay bills and accomplish a number of other tasks.

That's not the only aspect of net access that has evolved - the number of devices we can use to go online has also increased. No longer are we restricted to desktops or laptops; now some of us are surfing the web via video game consoles, tablets and smartphones.

However, the more devices used to go online, the bigger Internet bills are sure to be as more bandwidth will be consumed. As capacity-based billing is sweeping the nation, Internet service providers (ISPs) and their clients might have to contend with increasing rates.

Emails being checked on phones
The use of smartphones to tap into the Internet is rising, as evidenced by findings from Rep Solution research. The company revealed the results of a March 2013 email mobile open rates survey, which showed that individuals are increasingly using these devices to check their inboxes. The report noted that the current rates are presently the highest being clocked now, as 25.6 per cent of all emails were read via cellphone in January, and the figure rose to 27.5 per cent in February.

Email isn't the only Internet app being used on smartphones, a recent study revealed. The report, published by a Canadian cellphone provider, explained that when travelling, especially across the border to the United States, 56 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 35 want to update their social media pages on their phone, as compared to 17 per cent of those over 55 years old.

Browsing social networking sites, checking inboxes, playing games, streaming TV programs and other activities are among the things Canadians can do with their smartphones when they're home or away. We're constantly accessing the Internet in new and exciting ways, but this can give our service providers a challenge.

Good opportunity for ISPs
However, this might also present a profitable scenario for ISPs. As more and more individuals are taking to wireless devices for tasks, they're using more bandwidth and will likely be in need of bigger packages to accommodate such actions.

Even indie ISPs that don't offer cellphone plans would be able to benefit from this scenario, as consumers with smartphones might use a significant amount of bandwidth, which would require larger Internet packages. Any use of home bandwidth would be good for the provider.

Moreover, this might give ISPs new opportunities to not only give their clients exactly what they want but also provide the best experience possible.