Growth in apps broadens usage of mobile phones

A NEW American study has found that advancing technology has led to significant changes in how people are using their mobile phones.

The results reveal the greatest change in mobile phone usage is brought about by the possibilities afforded users by the mushrooming number of mobile data applications (apps) now available.

Of eight apps the Pew Research Centre asked about in 2009 and 2010, all showed statistically significant year-to-year growth. Among mobile phone owners, this included taking a picture with your phone (76% did so in 2010, up from 66% in 2009), sending text messages (72%, up from 65%), sending email (34%, up from 25%), accessing the internet (38%, up from 23%) and playing music (33% from 21%).