The frequency of mobile social networking among US mobile subscribers grew about 7% between the three-month period ended February 2011 (26.8%) and the three-month period ended May 2011 (28.6%), according to comScore MobiLens data. This built on 10% growth in mobile social networking observed by comScore between January and April 2011.
Mobile Games Also Continue Growth
Mobile games also continued a three-month growth trend started in April 2011, when the frequency of mobile game usage rose about 10%. In April 2011, 26.9% of mobile subscribers played mobile games, up 9% from 24.6% three months earlier.
Other mobile activities with a notable uptick in activity between February and May 2011 include listening to music (6%) and using downloaded apps (up 5%).
Google Android Increases Share 15%
A total of 76.8 million people in the US owned smartphones during the three months ending in May 2011, up 11% from the preceding three month period. Google Android ranked as the top operating system with 38.1% of US smartphone subscribers, up 15% from 33%. Apple strengthened its #2 position with 26.6% of the smartphone market, up 5.5% from 25.2%. RIM ranked third with 24.7% share (down 14.5% from 28.9%), followed by Microsoft (5.8%, down 25%) and Palm (2.4%).
Samsung Retains Perch as Top Mobile OEM
For the three-month average period ending in May, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 24.8% of U.S. mobile subscribers, flat from its February share. Samsung was followed by LG with 21.1% share and Motorola with 15.1% share.
While there was mostly little fluctuation in mobile OEM market share percentages, Apple strengthened its position at #4 with 8.7 percent share of mobile subscribers (up 2% from 6.5%), while RIM rounded out the top five with 8.1% share (down 6% from 8.6%).
About the Data: MobiLens data is derived from an intelligent online survey of a nationally representative sample of more than 30,000 mobile subscribers age 13 and above. Data on mobile phone usage refers to a respondent’s primary mobile phone and does not include data related to a respondent’s secondary device.
