Nielsen, the ratings and measurement company, has just announced the sale of something it is calling its App Playbook, built after surveying over 4,200 people who had downloaded a mobile application in the preceding 30 days. Perhaps surprising isn’t the word for the conclusions they’ve published, since there is not a lot of data preceding it. But interesting it definitely is.
- 21% of American wireless subscribers have a smart phone at Q4 2009, up from 19% in the previous quarter and significantly higher than the 14% at the end of 2008
- 14% of mobile subscribers have downloaded an app in the last 30 days
- Average number of apps: Smart phone: 22, Feature phone: 10
The phones that users have downloaded the most apps to were, in order, iPhone, with 37; Android, 22; Palm, 14; Windows Mobile, 13 and BlackBerry, 10.
Among other conclusions of the survey is that games, both free and paid, are the most downloaded of apps. No surprise there. On smart phones, vs. feature phones, the most popular are Facebook, Google Maps and Weather Channel.
Facebook is also the most popular in the social app category, but LinkedIn is popular with adults 25-44 and MySpace is more popular with teens than one might expect, given its leveling off.
The greatest surprise is that news barely makes a ding in the apps market, at least according to this study. Getting news tailored to your needs is one of the most gratifying elements of the new world of information. But maybe we’re somewhat prejudiced.
