Americans Don't Need to be Smart or Rich to Own a Smartphone: Study

To own a smartphone, Americans don't need to be smart or rich, according to a recent study conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

The new study has revealed that about one-third or 33 percent Americans surveyed own a smartphone and though attaining a degree at a college university apparently makes you significantly more likely to own a smartphone, those with lower education levels or low income are likely to own smartphones as well.

The study has thrown up some interesting facts and figures:

> 83% of US adults have a cell phone of some kind, and that 42% of them own a smartphone. That translates into 35% of all adults
> 25% of smartphone owners say that they mostly go online using their phone, rather than with a computer
> 59% of adults living in a household earning income of $75,000 or more are smartphone owners
> 48% of those with a college degree own smartphones
> 58% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 now own a smartphone as do 49% of those ages 18-24 and 44% of those ages 35-44
> Even among those with a household income of $30,000 or less, smartphone ownership rates for those ages 18-29 are equal to the national average
> 44% of blacks and Latinos are smartphone users
> Urban and suburban residents are roughly twice as likely to own a smartphone as those living in rural areas, and employment status is also strongly correlated with smartphone ownership
> Demographically, Android phones are especially common among young adults and African-Americans, while iPhones and Blackberry devices are most prevalent among college graduates and the financially well-off
> Android is the most common platform (used by 35% of those surveyed) Apple and RIM (BlackBerry) devices grabbed second spot, beeing used by 24 percent each while Palm OS grabbed 3rd spot (with 6%) and Windows came 4th (with 4% adoption)

The study reinforces the fact that smartphones, which are coming these days with 4-inch or larger displays, powerful processors, graphic cards and excellent cameras, are replacing desktop PCs and are being used as the primary device to access the Web and check their e-mail everyday.

Multitouch functions, class-of-art mobile operating systems, cutting-edge designs and competitive pricing have also prompted desktop PC users to adopt smartphones.