Half of Adult Cell Phone Owners Have Apps on Their Phones

POSTED BY: Jim Ittenbach | November 4, 2011

Pew Internet & American Life Project

The share of adult cell phone owners who have downloaded an app to their phone nearly doubled in the past two years – rising from 22% in September 2009 to 38% in August 2011 – according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

The share of U.S. adults who purchased a phone already equipped with apps also increased five percentage points in the past year, from 38% in May 2010 to 43% in the current survey.

When both groups are accounted for-those whose phones came equipped with apps and those who have downloaded their own-fully half of U.S. adult cell phone owners (50%) now have apps on their phones. In May 2010, that figure stood at 43%. Looking at all U.S. adults, 42% now have cell phones with apps.

Read the full report here.