The "Mobile
Market View," a consumer study of U.S. mobile phone users
conducted by The Kelsey Group with research partner ConStat,
reveals that 18.9 percent of mobile consumers now use a smartphone. Among
those surveyed, 49.2 percent plan to purchase an advanced mobile
device within the next two years.
Corresponding with the rapid consumer adoption
of smartphones is a marked increase in the level of mobile search
activity. According to the Mobile Market View study, mobile consumers
performed the following activities using their mobile devices during
the past six months:
- Downloaded or looked at maps or directions: 17.6 percent,
up from 10.8 percent in 2007 - Searched the Internet for products or services in their local
area: 15.6 percent, up from 9.8 percent in 2007 - Searched the Internet for products or services outside their
local area: 14.3 percent, up from 6.4 percent in 2007 - Obtained information about movies or other entertainment:
13.7 percent, up from 8.2 percent in 2007 - Connected with a social network, such as MySpace or Facebook:
9.6 percent, up from 3.4 percent in 2007
Study Confirms Kelsey Group Mobile Forecast
Findings from Mobile Market View indicate a growth rate of mobile
Internet users that is in line with The Kelsey Group's
U.S. Mobile Advertising Forecast: 2007-2012 (September 2007),
which projected mobile Internet users would grow at a compound
annual growth rate of 19 percent through 2012. According
to the latest Mobile Market View findings, the percentage of
mobile users who access the Internet from their mobile devices
increased from 32.4 percent in 2007 to 38.9 percent in 2008,
an annual growth rate of 20 percent.
The future of mobile local
search and advertising will be among the topics explored at The
Kelsey Group's upcoming "Interactive
Local Media 2008" (ILM:08) conference, Nov. 19-21, 2008,
in Santa Clara, California. ILM:08 is The Kelsey Group's
annual conference devoted to digital media with a local focus.
For more information, visit www.kelseygroup.com/ILM2008.