Information technology, primarily the Internet, has become increasingly important to consumerism in recent years. E-commerce, collaborative filtering, eBay, and product research are just a few of the innovations. Infotech devices have moved from geek to chic, and buying – and using – the latest IT for some consumers in all three Worlds is a way to attain an air of coolness and modernity.
The numbers of people buying smartphones has increased to 7.7 million in January 2013. Broadband penetration in Malaysia increased from 55.6% in 2010 to 66.0% in 2012. Report by McKinsey & Company in 2012 placed Malaysia at third place among countries that enjoyed productivity increase for SMEs due to web technologies. Sharing information on the internet enable consumers to
access more options available online. Some consumers are moving towards ‘collaborative consumption’ where people make deals or swap things and services over the internet. eGovt initiatives to transform government services online has increased productivity, specifically towards a paperless government.