Pew Internet found that apps were now on 50% of U.S. adult cellphones and that the most popular apps were for games, weather, social networking, maps/navigation/search, music, and news.
A new study from Pew Internet shows that nearly 50% of adult cell phone owners in the U.S. have apps on their phones. The study, which was conducted in August of 2011 shows that 38% of U.S. adult cell phone owners downloaded an app to their phone - nearly double from September 2009 when the number was 22%.
App Demographics
The demographics behind downloading apps is still concentrated among young adults with higher income and education levels who live in urban and suburban areas. (The study also found that app downloading on tablets skews slightly more female and slightly older.)
App Usage Varies Significantly
The study also found that only about two-thirds of of the adults who had apps on their phones reported actually using them. About 17% reported using no apps on a regular basis while 31% reported using 6 or more apps on a weekly basis.
Most Popular Apps
Games continued to be the most popular type of app, and the one that people were most willing to pay for followed by apps for weather, social networking, maps/navigation/search, music, and news.
For a more complete overview of the findings, visit the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.