ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT | MOBILE PHONES

A first: Majority of U.S. adultsnow own a smartphone

For the first time since the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project began systematically tracking smartphone adoption, a majority of Americans now own a smartphone of some kind. Here’s a look at the growth:

35%

48%

17%

46%

41%

12%

56%

35%

9%

Smartphone Othercellphone

Nocellphone

May 2011February 2012May 2013

Changes in smartphoneownership, 2011–13 Percentage of all U.S. adults who own …

Samsung leadsthe pack

Smartphone ownership by income/age

Annual global shipments of smartphones grew by more than 40 percent last year, and Samsung accounted for a quarter of them, according to Strategy Analytics.

Overall global shipments

Top makers

700.1

25.2%

21.3

40.3

8.64.6

490.5

In millions of units

Market share for new shipments, 2012

2012

Samsung

Nokia

Apple

Others

ZTE

2011

SOURCES: BBC; McClatchy-TribuneSOURCE: Pew Research Center SOURCE: Pew Research Center

SOURCE: Pew Research Center

SOURCE: Pew Research Center

15%

20%

28%

10%

19%

25%

10%

6%

4%

2%

2%

1%

May2011

Feb.2012

May2013

iPhone

Android

Blackberry

Windows

Cell owner platform choicesPercentage of U.S.cellphone owners who saytheir phone is …

Smartphone ownershipby demographic group

Every major demographic group experienced significant year-to-year growth in smartphone ownership between 2012 and 2013, although seniors — defined as those 65 and older — continue to exhibit relatively low adoption levels compared with other demographic groups.

Percentage within each group who own a smartphone

Men

Women

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

White

Black

Hispanic

59%

53%

79%

81%

69%

55%

39%

18%

53%

64%

60%

Gender

Age

Ethnicity

77%

47%

22%

8%

81%

68%

40%

21%

90%87%

72%

43%

Less than $30,000 $30,000-$74,999 $75,000+

65+50-64 30-49 18-29

The bottom line

Adam Vital, AT&T vice president/general manager, North Texas

Aaron W. Smith, senior researcher, Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project

Jim Rossman,The Dallas Morning News

“Today, people want to be connected to what’s important to them wherever they are, whether it’s to share photos and experiences with friends, check the news of the day or to find the closest restaurant. That’s why the popularity of the smartphone — and the tablet — continues to skyrocket. We’re in a mobile revolution. People want to be untethered and enjoy the freedom that mobile technology provides.”

“The research shows seniors are still slow to adopt smartphones — only 18 percent have one — but I hear from plenty of seniors who are anxious to learn about technology. Their questions show they don’t want to be left behind, and they’re also ready to show their grandchildren whatthey know.”

“In less than a decade, smartphones have become the information appliance of choice for a substantial majority of Americans. And while users welcome the convenience and connectivity, they also worry about the downsides of hyper-connectedness — from new distractions and interruptions, to new difficulties escaping the demands of the workplace.”

By MICHAEL HOGUEStaff Artist

mhogue@dallasnews.com