How Do Mobile Users Spend Their Time?

Mobile users in the US are on their phones more than ever, talking, texting, watching videos and using the mobile Web.

Over one-half (54%) of mobile users surveyed in September 2008 by Azuki Systems said their usage had increased by more than 25% over the past two years. One-fifth said their usage had increased by 50% or more.

One-third of respondents talked on their mobile phone more than 10 hours per week, and 34% of respondents ages 17 and under talked for more than 15 hours weekly.

But minutes of talk time became a commodity long ago, and mobile carriers—and the marketers who want to reach mobile customers—are looking to mobile data for new revenues.

The survey results should encourage them: Nearly four out of 10 mobile Internet users surfed the mobile Web for 2 or more hours every week. That number is likely to rise as smartphones continue to go mass market; 62% of mobile users surveyed said they either already owned or would own one within the next 12 months.

Nearly four out of five mobile users said they sent text messages from their phone, and 29% of those who did spent more than 2 hours every week on the activity.

The percentage of mobile users who told Azuki they sent text messages was even higher than results recorded by Nielsen Mobile in Q2 2008. Nielsen also found texting to be the most common mobile content activity, although it estimated that only 53% of mobile users engaged in SMS messaging.