Europeans show different attitudes to IT

Attitudes to technology vary wildly between different European countries and the US according to the latest survey by Mori.

The findings show Internet access is becoming increasingly widespread with 49 per cent of American respondents already online and 47 per cent of Swedes connected. France brings up the rear at 17 per cent, with many French respondents claiming the Internet is irrelevant to them. The UK was the only country where the majority of people felt the Internet is secure enough to shop.

Britain is also alone in preferring to use ATMs (automated teller machine) rather than dealing face to face with a member of bank staff, something two-thirds of respondents in all other countries preferred.

The new wave of supermarkets providing Net access got the thumbs up, with respondents agreeing that they were the service providers who had improved most. Britain and the US also gave supermarkets the highest customer care rating as ISPs.

Another unifying factor between countries was that respondents said they wouldn't trust governments with personal data. Doctors and banks were the only places universally trusted to hold this level of information.

Keith Todd, chief executive of ICL, said the report was a warning to businesses that people expect better choice and a higher level of service. He added that it was important technology was flexible enough to suit different lifestyles.

Mori questioned 3,500 people in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the US, in a report commissioned by services giant, ICL.