Smartphone adoption explodes

AMERICANS GET SMART: According to Nielsen’s latest mobile phone survey, 58% of U.S. mobile subscribers between 13 and 17 now tote a smartphone, a whopping 22 percentage-point jump from July 2011. With 74%, the 25-34 demo boasts the most voracious smartphone adopters, hitting 74% from 59% a year earlier. Overall, 55.5% of all mobile subscribers in the U.S. own smartphones, up from 41% the previous July. “Among most age groups smartphones represent the majority of U.S. mobile subscribers, but American teens were the age group adopting smartphones the fastest,” said Nielsen analyst Nichole Henderson. “As teens increase in their share of smartphone owners, mobile carriers and manufacturers should consider how to market to this growing group.” The biggest sellers are Androids (see Nielsen chart), but the iPhone, which kick-started the smartphone phenomenon, continues to cause the most feverish excitement among consumers. Meanwhile, it appears that the BlackBerry’s days are numbered. continued its decline, however, dropping to an 8% share and pulling a paltry 3% of recent acquirers. (9/11a)