No shocker: more than 50% of U.S. adults own a smartphone

According to the latest Pew Report, 56% of U.S. adults are now the owner of a smartphone. Even a majority of those in the 18 to 24 year old demographic, many of whom are working for minimum wage, sport a shiny new smartphone. Keep in mind the wording of today's pronouncement. In the past, we've noted that more than 50% of U.S. cellphone owners were using a smartphone. Today, Pew is saying that more than half of the population in the U.S.has a smartphone in their pockets. The latter is much more of an achievement. Overall, 91% of Americans own a cellphone

The 56% reading is a huge increase from the 35% of Americans that said they owned a smartphone in the spring 2011 survey, and is also up from the 46% seen last year. This year's report also shows that a majority of smartphone owners in the U.S. have attended college with 78% of them earning more than $75,000 a year.  A whopping 79% of those in the 18 to 24 year old group owns a smartphone. On the other hand, 18% of those over 65 are carrying a smartphone. Certainly that demographic usually feels more at home with the Samsung Jitterbug. Meanwhile, 40% of U.S. Apple iPhone owners say that they earn over $75,000 a year compared to the 31% of Android users who say that they earn the same amount.

In the U.S., 28% of all cellphone owners (not just those with a smartphone), say they own an Android handset while 25% say that they are the owner of an Apple iPhone. Two years ago, 10% of U.S. handset owners said that the phone in their pocket was a BlackBerry. Today, that number has dwindled to 4%.


source: Pew via AllThingsD