Mobile Internet becoming mainstream

According to a recent comScore report mobile internet usage is quickly becoming mainstream. The report finds that mobile consumers are logging on daily to catch up on news and stay in touch with friends and family; the number of daily mobile consumers has almost doubled since 2008.

by Kristina Knight

In January 2009 more than 62 million consumers logged on to the mobile internet and 35% (22.4 million consumers) logged on daily. Those logging on weekly grew by more than 80% and those logging on monthly grew by just over 70%.

"Over the course of the past year, we have seen use of mobile Internet evolve from an occasional activity to being a daily part of people's lives," observed Mark Donovan, senior vice president, mobile, comScore. "This underscores the growing importance of the mobile medium as consumers become more reliant on their mobile devices to access time-sensitive and utilitarian information."

Of those logging on to the mobile web most are looking for news and information (10.8 million users) or logging on to a mobile social network (1.7 million users). Just over 1 million consumers are logging on to the mobile 'Net to trade stocks or otherwise access their financial information. Consumers are also checking local business information, movie times and information or looking for entertainment news.