There's no question that the use of smartphones and mobile devices is growing rapidly and becoming mainstream. There's some question, though, as to the precise level of adoption.
Recently released Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life research indicates that close to half of U.S. adults now use smartphones (45%, in fact). Another third own "feature phones" (cell phones with added features, but not full internet accessibility), and 5% aren't sure what type of cellphone they have. That leaves only 15% with no cell phone. Last year, Pew reported that 35% of U.S. adults had smartphones.
On the other hand, a Nielsen report indicates that 55.5% of mobile users have a smartphone. The discrepancy isn't that bad, however, as the Pew number translates to about 53% of "mobile users".
Adoption of smartphones continues to be differentiated. The Pew study indicates that more than two-thirds of young adults (18-29) have smartphones, as do two-thirds of adults in households earning more than $75000 annually. In addition, Blacks (47%) and Hispanics (49%) remain slightly more likely than Whites (42%) to have smartphones.
The Nielsen results also have younger users leading the charge, with 58% of teens (13-17) having smartphones (up from 36% the previous year), as did three-quarters of those in the 25-34 age group. The Nielsen report also shows the Android OS continuing to lead, with over half of smartphone users using Android OS phones, and a slight drop in the last quarter in Apple's share. Many analysts felt that the slowdown in Apple iOS growth was at least partially due to expectations for a new iPhone release delaying purchase decisions (with Apple's share of the market increasing again after the release).
And it looks like those expectations will be met with the iPhone 5. Apple reported getting 2 million pre-orders for their upgraded device within the first 24 hours they were available, with demand already outstripping supply (the iPhone 5 won't be officially launched until this Friday, Sept. 21). With a global launch, some analysts are predicting Apple will sell 100 million iPhone 5s by the end of December, if manufacturing can keep up.
Sources - Smartphones Ring Up Popularity Stats, OnlineMediaDaily
Young Adults and Teens Lead Growth Among Smartphone Owners, NielsenWire press release
Apple's iPhone 5: 2 million preorders, 24 hours and a unique upgrade cycle, ZDNet
Smartphone Ownership Update: September 2012, report from Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
Update - Research from Frank N. Magid indicates that half of U.S. Internet users have also downloaded an app to a mobile device. Looking deeper, only one in four app users have paid for an app, but one third of those who haven't used an app feel that they are likely to start doing so within the next three months.
Source - Survey finds half of U.S. online users have downloaded mobile apps, Fierce Mobile Content
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