2011-11-01-皮尤-Half_of_adult_cell_phone_owners_have_apps_on_their_phones_33页_1mb

Summary of "Half of adult cell phone owners have apps on their phones"

Core Content

This report from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, published in November 2011, examines the growth and usage patterns of mobile applications among U.S. adults. It highlights the increasing popularity of apps on both cell phones and tablet computers, as well as the demographic and behavioral characteristics of app users.

Main Points

• App Adoption Growth: The percentage of U.S. adults who have downloaded apps to their cell phones nearly doubled from 22% in September 2009 to 38% in August 2011. Additionally, 43% of adults now own a phone with preloaded apps, up from 38% in May 2010.
• Total App Ownership: Combining those who downloaded apps and those who received preloaded apps, 50% of adult cell phone owners (42% of all U.S. adults) have apps on their phones.
• Tablet App Usage: 10% of U.S. adults own a tablet, with 75% of those users downloading apps. This translates to 8% of all adults. Most tablet app users also use apps on their cell phones.
• Overlap Between Devices: There is considerable overlap between cell phone and tablet app users, with 82% of tablet app downloaders also downloading apps for their cell phones.
• Total App Downloaders: 34% of all U.S. adults report downloading apps to at least one of the two devices (cell phone or tablet).
• App Usage Patterns: While many adults have apps on their phones, actual usage is lower. In August 2011, 51% of cell phone app users used a handful of apps weekly, and 31% were "power users" (using 6 or more apps weekly). For tablet users, 39% used 6 or more apps weekly.
• App Purposes: The most popular app categories include those that provide regular updates (news, weather, sports, stocks), communication tools, and learning apps. Apps for shopping and work-related tasks are more likely to be downloaded by men, while communication apps are more popular among African-Americans and young adults.
• Payment Behavior: Only 46% of app downloaders have paid for an app, with the majority spending $5 or less. Higher-income and more educated individuals are more likely to pay for apps.
• Demographic Trends: App downloaders tend to be younger, more educated, have higher incomes, and live in urban or suburban areas. The gender gap has narrowed, with men still slightly more likely to download apps than women.
• App Confusion: Some adults remain unsure whether their phones came preloaded with apps, especially those aged 50 and older.
• Mobile Trend Reflection: The rise in app use reflects a broader shift toward mobile devices for internet access. Desktop computers have become less popular, while laptops and smartphones have gained traction.

Key Information

• Survey Details: Conducted from July 25 to August 26, 2011, among 2,260 adults aged 18 and older, with interviews in English and Spanish.
• Margin of Error: ±2 percentage points for the total sample.
• Cell Phone App Growth: From 22% in 2009 to 38% in 2011.
• App Usage vs. Ownership: 51% of cell phone app owners use a few apps weekly, while 17% use none.
• Tablet App Usage: 75% of tablet owners download apps, with 39% using 6 or more apps weekly.
• Payment Trends: 52% of app downloaders paid $5 or less, while 17% paid over $20.
• Demographic Breakdown:
  • Age: Younger adults (18-29) are most likely to download and use apps.
  • Gender: Men are more likely to download apps for shopping and work tasks.
  • Education: College graduates are more likely to download apps for learning and information.
  • Income: Higher-income households are more likely to pay for apps.
  • Location: Urban and suburban residents are more likely to use apps for travel and event-related information.

Conclusion

The report underscores that while app use is growing, it remains concentrated among certain demographic groups. App downloading reflects a broader trend of increasing mobile connectivity, with apps serving various purposes from communication to entertainment and productivity. Despite the popularity of apps, many users do not use all the apps they have downloaded, and there is still some confusion about the nature of apps and their presence on mobile devices.