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Pew: Half of US customers use phones to get info in realtime

by Mike Schramm Aug 15th 2011 at 7:30PM

Have you ever been out and about with your cell phone, needed some information, and looked it up right there on the spot? You're not alone: The Pew Internet Research Project has released a report that says more than half of US cell phone owners have used their devices to get information they needed in real-time, right where they happen to be. That's a huge change in the way we used to deal with information -- remember when you had to print out maps or call ahead before you went somewhere, or just forget what the name of that '80s movie actually was? Nowadays, connected phones are so ubiquitous that all of that information is literally and conveniently a touch away.

In fact, I'm surprised that number isn't higher. And looking up information isn't the only thing smartphone owners do with their phones: 92 percent text and take pictures, 80 percent send photos to others, and 76 percent send emails. Social networking in general is popular as well, with 59 percent of owners using those sites, and 15 percent going to Twitter specifically.

We've heard before that people are actively doing these kinds of things with their smartphones, but the trend is definitely continuing.



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Have you ever been out and about with your cell phone, needed some information, and looked it up right there on the spot? You're not...
 

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AppleZilla

I'm also surprised that number isn't higher. To me, mobile Internet is the primary purpose of the iPhone. Yes, even before phone calls. I can do that with a 'dumb' phone.

I remember using my iPhone to lookup some info while I was negotiating the lease of my last car. Saved me $1200. The various people I was talking to at the dealership knew exactly what I was doing and they were not happy about it.

And yes, I do look up quite a bit of trivia while out and about. 'What was the name of that actress?...'

August 16 2011 at 8:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Justin

Note that this doesn't seem to exclude simply calling someone for information. Isn't that the entire point of a mobile phone?!?!? Why is this number only half? What are the other half of mobile phone customers doing with their phones, picking their noses with the antenna?

August 15 2011 at 10:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rdnymllnsktr

People make phone calls??? What? This is preposterous!

August 15 2011 at 8:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
david schloss

This required a research organization and a study? Isn't that what these phones are for? That's how they're branded, marketed and sold.

The pew study also found that people sometimes make phone calls on these and often put them in their pockets!

*facepalm*

August 15 2011 at 7:56 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
silvertech

well what the hell else are you going to do wasting $30 for monthly data? might as well use it

August 15 2011 at 7:53 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
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