Smartphone popularity grows

17
Jul
2012

Category: Mobile Work Force Tips

Smartphones continue to rise in popularity, making it inevitable for many business owners to integrate the technology into their business models.

New research from Nielsen shows that the market in the United States for smartphones equipped with various features is on the rise, with two-thirds of new buyers choosing devices that are fit with smart technology as opposed to older models of cellphones.

Although the Apple iPhone is still an immensely popular option for smartphone owners, devices running Google's Android operating system are gaining ground.

"Android continues to lead the smartphone market in the U.S., with a majority of smartphone owners (51.8 percent) using an Android OS handset," according to the Nielsen data. "Over a third (34.3 percent) of smartphone owners use an Apple iPhone, and BlackBerry owners represented another 8.1 percent of the smartphone market." 

The Nielsen research data also found that the smartphone market is still just a bit more than half saturated. As of June, only 54.9 percent of mobile phone users in the country owned a smartphone, while the other 45 percent of mobile users in the United States used cellphones without smart technology or capabilities.

Chris Silva, a mobile analyst with The Altimeter Group, added that 45 percent is a signifcant portion of American consumers who do not have smartphones and seek out cheaper alternatives. He said that is close to 100 million handsets.

Silva added that the smartphone market is still susceptible to competition and that could be created by a new smartphone from Amazon, which has been rumored for some time.

Everyday consumers aren't the only reason for the increased demand. An increasing number of businesses are integrating the technology into their operations to help streamline processes and improve productivity. From automating services to improving communication between mobile workers and headquarters, the latest smartphone software solutions are evolving opportunities for businesses.