Study: Driven by Smartphone Use, Surge Seen in Non-Voice Communications

Last week, we learned of an anticipated increase in mobile crime due to a proliferation in smartphone use.

This week, we learn of a spike in non-voice communications (such as text messaging, email and Internet access) due to the same growth in the smartphone space (i.e. mobile phones with operating systems).

The new study, which was released last week by BIA/Kelsey and research partner ConStat, says this growing class of non-voice users represents more than one-fifth of all mobile consumers. Among mobile users:

1. 48.2 percent sent or received more than 10 text messages per week
2. 21 percent had more than 10 Internet accesses per week
3. 20 percent sent or received more than 10 emails per week

In addition, the study says local searching now exceeds out-of-market searches by a wide margin. Among consumers using mobile devices:

1. 18.5 percent searched the mobile Web for local products or services (which is up from 15.6 percent in 2008)
2. 15.9 percent obtained information about movies or other entertainment
3. 13.3 percent obtained information about restaurants or bars
4. 11.1 percent searched the Internet for products or services outside their local area
5. 4 percent purchased a physical item that needed to be shipped (such as a book)
6. 3 percent used a coupon from their phone

The study also said that 16.7 percent of people connected with a social network (such as MySpace or Facebook), which is up from 9.6 percent in 2008. The BIA/Kelsey study, which is called Mobile Market View, tracks mobile user behavior.

This wave of the BIA/Kelsey study, which was the third, was conducted in Oct. 2009 via an online 40-question survey. The study surveyed 504 U.S. mobile phone users aged 18 and older. The first wave was conducted in Sept. 2007 and the second wave was in Oct. 2008.