US Smartphone Feature and Usage Trends

Summary of 2007 and 2008 Survey Results

In November, 2007 and December, 2008, ABI Research conducted an online study among adult US consumers concerning their use of a personal mobile phone for a variety of mobile content application and services, including usage trends of smartphone features.

This Research Brief provides the comparative survey results for the portion of questions related to smartphone features and usage. Questions were asked about those who use a smartphone for personal communications and which features are present on the respondents’ smartphones. The queries also examine frequency of use for nine smartphone feature categories: Bluetooth hands-free calling, SMS messaging, email and mobile web, mobile TV, video, navigation/GPS, embedded cameras, music and gaming. This Research Brief includes survey methodology, responses laid out in charts with additional summaries and analysis, and respondent classification/demographics.

Table of Contents

Methodology
Summary: Smartphones
Percentage of Smartphones in the United States
Most Common US Smartphone Features
Frequent Smartphone Uses
Most Frequently Used US Smartphone Features
Least Used US Smartphone Features
Summary: Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling
Frequency of Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling
Summary: SMS Text Messaging
Frequency of SMS Use
Summary: Mobile E-Mail and Web
Frequency of Mobile E-Mail Use
Frequency of Mobile Web Use
Summary: Mobile TV, Video, and Navigation
Frequency of Mobile TV or Video Use
Frequency of Mobile GPS/Navigation Use
Summary: Mobile Photography, Music, and Gaming
Summary: Mobile Photography,
Frequency of Mobile Photo Taking
Frequency of Mobile Music Listening
Frequency of Mobile Gaming
Classification/Demographics
Smartphone Provider
Smartphone Brand
Occupational Status
Number of People in Household
Gender
Home Internet Connection
Age
Education
Household Annual Income



Charts
  • Is Your Mobile Phone a Smartphone?
  • Most Common US Smartphone Features
  • Most Frequently Used US Smartphone Features
  • Least Used US Smartphone Features
  • Frequency of Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of SMS Use by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile E-Mail Use by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile Web Use by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile TV or Video Use by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile GPS/Navigation Use by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile Photo Taking by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile Music Listening by US Smartphone Users
  • Frequency of Mobile Gamingby US Smartphone Users
  • Smartphone Provider
  • Personal Smartphone Brand
  • Occupational Status of US Smartphone Users(Multiples Allowed)
  • Number of People in US Smartphone Consumer Household
  • Gender of US Smartphone Users
  • Home Internet Connection of US Smartphone Users(Multiple Answers)
  • Age of US Smartphone Users
  • Education of US Smartphone Users
  • Household's Annual Pre-Tax Income of US Smartphone Users