The iPhone is the most popular device for accessing news and information on the mobile Web, with 85% of iPhone users accessing news and information in the month of January, according to research from M:Metrics. Not less than 30.9% of iPhone owners watched mobile TV or video, versus a 4.6 market average, and more than double the rate for all smartphone users.
“The iPhone has certainly delivered on its hype,” said Mark Donovan, senior analyst, M:Metrics, in a prepared statement. “Beyond a doubt, this device is compelling consumers to interact with the mobile Web, delivering off-the-charts usage from everything to text messaging to mobile video.”
“This data indicates that the iPhone’s widgets are and effective means to drive mobile content consumption,” observed Donovan. “Two featured widgets, YouTube and Google Maps are extremely popular among iPhone users: 30.4% accessed YouTube and 36% used Google Maps. In comparison, only 1% of all mobile subscribers accessed YouTube and 2.6% checked out Google Maps.”
Although this report shows early findings, we believe it clearly indicates that an easy to understand user interface does help promoting new services. Of course , iPhone users are early adapters and more likely to try and use new technologies, but the device is so easy to use that it really does make a difference. Now, if Apple only could translate this to its Apple TV.
