U.S. Smartphone Users Spend More Time With Their Phones Than U.K. and China Smartphone Users

COLUMBIA, Md., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. smartphone users may spend more time using their phones, but a larger portion of that time is spent on voice calls versus messaging and browsing. 

In the U.K., Arbitron Mobile's smartphone panelists spend a greater amount of time engaging with all of their smartphone apps, equaling 58 percent of time spent using their phones. The same holds true in China, with panelists spending 55 percent of their smartphone usage on apps. Voice call usage is 7 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Both messaging and browsing claim a consistent share of smartphone use across all three countries. Panelists spent 22 to 23 percent of their smartphone time messaging and 12 to 14 percent of their smartphone time browsing. 

Smartphone operating systems also seem to impact smartphone function usage. iOS panelists spend more time with their smartphone than Android panelists and with all key functions with the exception of browsing in the U.S. and U.K.

Source: Arbitron Mobile 1^st Quarter 2013 Mobile Index Reports: U.S., U.K., China* based on Arbitron Mobile Trends Panels™ Service, Persons 18+

* Operated by iResearch using Arbitron Mobile technology

** Messaging is defined as email, instant messaging, general messaging, MMS messaging and SMS messaging

Women panelists in China and the U.S. use smartphones more than men. Across all three panels, women browse less and message more. Additionally, panelists who are the most avid smartphone users by demographic are adults 18-24 years old. Not surprisingly, panelists in the over 55 years of age demographic spend a larger share of their phone time with voice calls, while 18-24 year olds spend a larger share of their time messaging. Panelists over age 55 in the U.K. however, spend the most time messaging.

About Arbitron Mobile   
Arbitron Mobile Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arbitron Inc., uses a proprietary, on-device software meter to provide marketers, the media, content providers, app developers, and wireless access suppliers with information on how mobile consumers use apps, surf the web, engage in social media, participate in e-commerce, and employ their devices to communicate.

For more information, contact mobile@arbitron.com.

About Arbitron  
Arbitron Inc. ARB is an international media and marketing research firm serving the media—radio, television, cable and out-of-home; the mobile industry; as well as advertising agencies and advertisers around the world. For more information: www.arbitron.com.

About iResearch Consulting   
iResearch Consulting, founded 2002, is the leading consulting and media measurement company in the Internet industry in China. With more than 200 employees, iResearch, headquartered in Shanghai, has been at the forefront of Chinese Internet measurement and operates a currency Internet audience rating service for China.

SOURCE Arbitron Inc.