Americans are going wireless Internet big time, report says

A few days ago, the Pew Research Center released a report that Americans are looking online to fight the recession. On Tuesday it added that most of us are doing that via wireless Internet.

The results of the center's Internet & American Life Project survey show that 56 percent of adult Americans have accessed the Internet via wireless means, such as a Wi-Fi laptop, a mobile device, a game console, or an MP3 player. The most popular way people get online wirelessly is with a laptop computer, numbering 39 percent of some 2,200 survey participants.

The report also revealed the rising levels of Americans using the Internet on a mobile handset. Almost one-third (32 percent) have used a cell phone or a smartphone to access the Internet for e-mailing, instant messaging, or reading news.

For comparison, only 24 percent of Americans had done this by December 2007. Now, in a typical day, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of Americans use the Internet on a mobile device, up substantially from the 11 percent level recorded in December 2007.

The cell phone's main purpose as a voice device has changed substantially. According to the report, in 2009, 69 percent say that they have used the cell phone for at least one of the non-voice activities.

These activities include text messaging, taking a picture, playing a game, accessing the Internet, recording video, instant messaging, playing music, getting maps or directions, and watching video. Back in 2007, only 58 percent did this.

The usage of of non-voice activities on a typical day has also increased from only 32 percent in 2007 to 44 percent in 2009. Half of Americans now think that the ability to access the Internet via their mobile devices is vital to how they stay in touch with people.

These changes in the way we access the Internet are hardly surprising, especially with the proliferation in recent years of smartphones that come with advanced Internet capabilities, such as the iPhone or the Palm Pre.

Personally, I read most of my e-mails via my iPhone 3G and I use it mostly for non-voice purposes. How about you?

[davidmbrowndotcom]

I might eventually I'll get a smartphone, if monthly charges decline. But I can't see paying both my broadband at home and a comparable monthly fee for smartphone Internet access, especially since I'm usually at my desk. I have a netbook and maintain a Boingo wifi account for occasional travel and as backup for the broadband. I've also got prepaid cellular broadband that I can top up in a pinch. My cell phone is a tracfone.

[empirestatebuddy]

I agree that smartphone data & messaging plans are still a bit over-priced, but it's also nice to have email in your pocket (if you get a lot of email). I use a BlackBerry and find myself relying on it a little more every week, which is similar to what happened when I got my first cell phone. At first, I didn't use it much, but then you start to realize the convenience of it, etc.

Not everyone needs a smartphone though.

[davidmbrowndotcom]

"I might eventually get..." is what I meant to type before the gremlins attacked.

[useful_worms]

The bulk of my email communication is through my iPhone. I'm not usually at my desk so accessing the internet over my phone is crucial, especially when I can't get out my laptop. Most of my real, actual work is done on a laptop, but the rest is done on my phone.

[cvaldes1831]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am actually using my computer and web browser far less ever since Apple opened their App Store. Many of the things I used to do on my computer's web browser are now more easily accessed via Internet-connected apps on my iPod touch. My MacBook has left the house twice in the past year; the iPod touch is usually quite adequate and it fits in a pocket.

My home computer is already largely relegated to certain applications/projects (e.g., Quicken, HD video and photo editing), reading longer articles, doing things that require heavy typing, or as a media viewer/organizer (music, videos, streaming TV). When it comes time to replace my MacBook, I might actually switch to a Mac mini.

I thought I'd never say this, but I'm not sure I need a notebook computer anymore. I don't travel for work, but if I did, they (my employer) would provide one anyhow. I don't need mobility anymore for personal computing.

[NewsReader_]

This is interesting but I think it is a bit skewed. There is a huge difference between wifi and mobile broadband. I would rule out 'game consoles' entirely. They may as well be hard wired in the context of this article.

It is hard to put smartphone and laptop users in the same bucket. True they access the same internet but quite differently.

For example, on my mobile device, I would say that I pull data mostly. I rarely sewnd email and if I do, it is a one liner most of the time.

I push and pull from my laptop in much higher quantities.

It would be interesting to know how many people are using laptops on mobile networks vs. wifi. They chew up a lot more bandwidth than smartphones.

[celticbrewer]

I agree. Some of the statements here are suspicious. Take this:

"Half of Americans now think that the ability to access the Internet via their mobile devices is vital to how they stay in touch with people. "

Does SMS count? Even if so, half of Americans?? That seems like a lot.

Like JMans says below, they only polled 2253 adults. That's a pretty sad survey.

[jacksoncapper]

Wireless is great. If I'm not using my phone for internet access, I'm using it as a bluetooth modem to access the internet on my laptop It's all pretty cool.

[jmans1212]

I was curious how the data was retrieved and discovered it was pulled via phone interviews of 2,253 adults. I don't see how any survey done for just a few thousand people in a population over millions is any type of accurate survey. If they mostly call people in rural areas the stats would be much much lower. By rural I meanareas where cable and cell phone reception is not provided. Yes people many place like this exist. If they call people in major citites would be even higher. Surveys are way to easy to manipulate. I know because I see it done all the time.

[clynx]

With the data caps to tether and at $60 a month it is a rip off. Plus smells of censorship and price fixing to me.

[rodr0069]

I can't wait until I can watch <a href="http://www.canwatchtvonline.com/">internet TV</a> from anywhere!

[yhicr]

I have aTracfone, It's a great way to keep in touch with your kids. Calls and texts are less expensive on a TracFone than on other phones and with no contract, there's no surprises!