49.7% of Americans own smartphones

Almost half (49.7%) of US mobile subscribers now own smartphones, as of February 2012. According to Nielsen, this marks an increase of 38% YTY; in February 2011, only 36% of mobile subscribers owned smartphones. This growth is driven by increasing smartphone adoption, as more than two-thirds of those who acquired a new mobile device in the last three months chose a smartphone over a feature phone.

Overall, Android continues to lead the smartphone market in the U.S., with 48% of smartphone owners saying they owned an Android OS device. Nearly a third (32.1%) of smartphone users have an Apple iPhone, and Blackberry owners represented another 11.6% of the smartphone market. Among recent acquirers who got their smartphone within the last three months, 48% of those surveyed in February said they chose an Android and 43% bought an iPhone.

Smart connected devices generated $489 bln in 2011

The universe of smart connected devices, including PCs, media tablets, and smartphones, saw shipments of more than 916 mln units and revenues surpassing $489 bln dollars in 2011, according to IDC. Unit shipments for smart connected devices should top 1.1 bln worldwide in 2012. By 2016, IDC predicts shipments will reach 1.84 bln units, more than double the 2011 figure, as consumers and business of all shapes and sizes around the world are showing a nearly insatiable appetite for smart connected devices. This works out to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% for the five-year forecast period.

Chart: Worldwide Smart Connected Device Shipments, 2010-2016 (Unit Millions)Description: This data comes from IDC’s WW Quarterly PC Tracker, WW Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, and WW Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker.Tags: Tracker, mobile phones, tablets, forecast, PCs, devices, consumer, IDC …Author: IDCcharts powered by iCharts

Mobile entertainment to generate $32 bln in 2009

According to Mobile Entertainment Forum, the global mobile entertainment industry is now worth some $32 bln. According to KPMG, the industry also remains confident that it can continue to grow strongly despite the current economic challenges, predicting average revenue growth of 28% for 2010.

26% of US consumers thinking of cutting costs by switching to prepaid cellular

Two out of five Americans with contract-based cell phones (39% or 60.3 mln consumers) are likely to cut back on their cell phones to save money if, as is widely expected, the economy gets worse over the next six months, according to Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) for the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC).

26% of consumers with contract-based cell phone service are more inclined today than 6 months ago to look at a way to save money on their cell phone bill, such as by switching to prepaid phone plans and services. This group includes 38% of those in households making $35,000 a year or less, 32% of African Americans and 30% of those aged 18-34. A total of 19 mln Americans have considered cutting back (5%) or actually have cut back (15%) on such features in the last six months because of actual job loss, fear of job loss, the recession, or any other related financial concerns. More than two out of five cell phone users with extras on their phones (41%) say it is very (19%) or somewhat (21%) likely that they will cut back on cell phone extras if the economy gets worse in the next six months. Fewer than two in five (39%) say it is not likely at all that they will make such cuts in the face of a deepening recession.

International phone calls up 12% in 2008

Cross-border telephone traffic grew 14% in 2007 and is estimated to have grown 12% in 2008, to 384 billion minutes. Due to declining call prices, however, revenues have largely been flat. While international telephone traffic is increasing at a modest pace, Skype’s international traffic has soared: TeleGeography estimates that Skype’s cross-border traffic grew approximately 41% in 2008, to 33 billion minutes, equivalent to 8% of combined international telephone traffic, TeleGeography says.

14.7% of US households were completely wireless in 2007, Oklahoma and Utah most landline-free in the nation

Wireless-only households made up 14.7% of US households in 2007. Wireless-only adults made up 13.6% of U.S. adults in 2007. State-level estimates ranged from 5.1% (Vermont) to 26.2% (Oklahoma) of households and from 4.0% (Delaware) to 25.1% (Oklahoma) of adults. 25.4% of adults living in the District of Columbia were wireless-only, Center for Disease Control says.

14.7% of US households were completely wireless in 2007, Oklahoma and Utah most landline-free in the nation

Other states with a high prevalence of wireless-only households include Utah (25.5%), Nebraska (23.2%), Arkansas (22.6%), Idaho (22.1%), and Iowa (22.2%). Other states with a low prevalence of wireless-only households include Connecticut (5.6%), Delaware (5.7%), South Dakota (6.4%), Rhode Island (7.9%), New Jersey (8.0%), and Hawaii (8.0%).

Wireless-only households made up 14.7% of US households in 2007. Wireless-only adults made up 13.6% of U.S. adults in 2007. State-level estimates ranged from 5.1% (Vermont) to 26.2% (Oklahoma) of households and from 4.0% (Delaware) to 25.1% (Oklahoma) of adults. 25.4% of adults living in the District of Columbia were wireless-only, Center for Disease Control says.

66% of smartphones sold in Q4 2008 rely on 3G

According to The NPD Group, consumer sales of smartphones to US consumers represented 23% of all handset sales in Q4 2008 compared to just 12% in Q4 2007. Led by the release of iPhone 3G at $199, the average price for a smartphone fell 23% from $216 in Q4 2007 to $167 in Q4 2008. While half of smartphones on the market now sold with touch screens, 70% of all models instead offer QWERTY keyboards. 66% of smartphones now use 3G networks, compared to just 46% a year ago. 52% of smartphone buyers purchased an accessory at the time of their phone purchases, compared to just 41% among all other phone buyers.

16.5% of mobile users spent over $100 in app stores

An ABI Research survey of US smartphone users who installed applications on their devices in 2008, conducted in November 2008, reveals that a surprising 16.5% spent between $100 and $499. That level of spending is especially significant given the low cost of most mobile applications, ranging from as little as a dollar or two at Apple’s iPhone App Store, to at most about $25.

US mobile Internet activity in November 2008

Activity Audience, 000 Reach Growth, %
Sent/received photos or videos 63,736 27.7 5.6
Received SMS ads 54,922 23.9 8.2
Accessed news/info via browser 41,894 18.2 9.7
Used email 38,370 16.7 6.3
Listened to music 21,006 9.1 8.5
Accessed social networking sites 20,668 9.0 14.2
Played downloaded game 20,468 8.9 6.1
Purchased ringtones 19,556 8.5 -1.1
Accessed downloaded application 18,337 8.0 15.8
Watched Video 7,523 3.3 +5.6
Source: comScore

Internet activity of European mobile subscribers in November 2008

Germany Spain France Italy UK
Activity % Users % Change % Users % Change % Users % Change % Users % Change % Users % Change
Watched video 5% 2% 8% 0% 6% -7% 7% -4% 4% -27%
Listened to music 20% -2% 23% -1% 17% -3% 17% -2% 22% -1%
Accessed news/info via browser 9% 10% 10% 10% 14% 5% 10% 5% 19% 5%
Received SMS ads 27% 0% 75% 5% 64% -1% 54% 2% 36% 0%
Played downloaded game 8% -2% 10% -6% 4% -14% 8% -5% 10% -4%
Accessed downloaded application 4% 25% 5% 26% 3% 16% 6% 12% 6% 17%
Sent/received photos or videos 23% 0% 31% -3% 25% -6% 30% -5% 30% -2%
Purchased ringtones 4% 10% 4% 2% 3% -8% 4% 6% 3% 4%
Used email 9% 7% 11% -1% 9% 11% 12% 2% 12% 12%
Accessed social networking sites 3% 25% 5% 33% 5% 20% 5% 33% 9% 12%
Source: comScore

500 mln mobile TV viewers by 2013

While mobile broadcast TV was pioneered in Japan and South Korea, following the switchover traditional and mobile TV broadcasters and cellular operators in many regions will launch mobile TV services that are forecast to attract over 500 mln viewers by 2013, ABI Research found.

8.5% of Americans to use push-to-talk by 2013

Push to Talk (PTT), the mobile phone feature that enables users to connect virtually instantaneously with other users, is forecast to find its way into 8.5% of the North American market by year-end 2013, but in no other world region will it even begin to approach that market share, ABI Research says.

Top mobile sites and top PC sites

Mobile users accessing Facebook spend an average of 24 minutes per day on the site, similar to the 27.5 minutes spent by PC users. Mobile users on Facebook averaged 3.3 visits per day versus 2.3 visits per day by PC users. Mobile is used consistently throughout the whole day, but the early morning (7-10am) is the key day part for mobile, accounting for 22% of total mobile minutes browsed, compared with only 11% of total minutes browsed by PC Internet users in the same day part. Mobile can therefore act as an extension to media such as the Internet and TV, while it reinforces other early morning media, such as radio and newspapers. Mobile is confirmed as a strong youth medium with 48% of users between 18-34 years old, compared to 40% for the fixed Internet and 29% for the TV audience. Mobile is also more skewed towards men, who represent 63% of total users compared with 53% for the fixed Internet.

Top mobile sites Top PC sites
Mobile Operator Sites Google Sites
Google Sites Microsoft Sites
Facebook.com Yahoo! Sites
Yahoo! Sites Facebook.com
BBC Sites EBay
Apple Inc. Sites BBC Sites
Microsoft Sites AOL (inc. Bebo)
Sony Online (inc. Sony Ericsson) Amazon Sites
Nokia Ask Network
AOL (inc. Bebo) Wikimedia Foundation
Source: GSM Association

Mobile Social Networking Usage: November 2008

% Mobile Social Networking
Users Who Exclusively
Use Social Media
Y/Y Change in Social
Networking via Browser
or Application
Mobile Social Networking
Users as Percent of all
Mobile Phone Users
Germany 39.1% 145% 3.3%
Spain 46.5% 114% 5.0%
France 21.6% 167% 4.5%
Italy 38.2% 151% 4.7%
UK 29.7% 167% 9.2%
Total 33.5% 152% 5.4%
Source: comScore

725 mln WCDMA handsets to ship in 2009

The global mobile handset market went into a tailspin in October and November 2008, which will result in a nearly 5% YTY decline in unit shipments in Q4 2008. While 2009 is likely to see more stormy economic weather, there are a few rays of sunshine. WCDMA handset shipments are projected to grow from 258 mln in 2008 to 725 mln in 2009. By 2013, more than 67% of all handsets shipped will be 3G/3G+ capable. Smartphones captured 14% of the 2008 market and are expected to grow throughout the challenging period of 2009 and comprise 31% of the market by 2013. Cellular modems will also be a high growth sector in 2009, driven largely by USB modems which will account for 80% of the shipment volume. Market volume is expected to increase by more than 55% in the coming year as Asian vendors push forward with low-priced modems, ABI Research says.

4.5 bln mobile users by 2013

By 2013, there will be over 140 mln U.S. consumers paying for mobile broadband, which will extend video, communication, networking, and support services to all sorts of devices. Parks Associates forecasts 4.5 bln mobile phone users worldwide by 2013, with many people using these devices as gateways for entertainment services, community information, and social networking. The increasing importance of the mobile phone will affect other product and service sectors. For example, over 100 mln femtocells will be shipped worldwide in 2013, cumulatively serving over 300 mln subscribers.

Top mobile phones in use in Q3 2008

Rank Handset Share of subscribers
1 Motorola RAZR V3 series 9.3%
2 Motorola MotoKRZR series 2.0%
3 LG VX8300 series 1.6%
4 Apple iPhone 1.5%
5 LG VX8500 series 1.2%
5 RIM BlackBerry 8100 series 1.2%
7 Nokia 6101 series 1.1%
8 LG VX8350 1.0%
9 Motorola V325 series 0.9%
9 Nokia 6010 series 0.9%
Source: Nielsen