One In Three UK Adults Now Use Smartphones

The growth in popularity of smartphones has far outpaced that of ordinary mobiles – one third of adults in Britain now use one. But what does the mobile phone market look like now, and how can you get the best deals?

Did you know that 47% of phones sold in western Europe during the first quarter of this year were smartphones?

That’s the latest from IT research company IDC, which has been charting the changing nature of the mobile phone market.

It’s a picture that’s also reflected in Britain, with YouGov figures suggesting that smartphones make up a third of mobile sales – a figure that’s still growing.

With figures like these, there’s no doubting that the smartphone is set to firmly eclipse basic mobile handsets.

But if you want to choose a smartphone with the best features and pricing for your needs, you need to shop around.

Smartphones – which is the mobile phone for you?

While Apple’s iPhone may have got the lion’s share of smartphone publicity, it’s not the only option out there.

According to the same YouGov figures, 28% of the British smartphone market is held by Google’s Android operating system, followed closely by Apple on 26%. Blackberry comes in third with 14%.

The rest of the market is made up of contenders such as Nokia, with phones running the Symbian operating system, plus Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and the newer Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.

However, because Google creates only its operating system, which it then gives to third-party device makers free of charge, Android phones are available at a much greater variety of price points.

That makes them a great choice for 25-34 year olds who typically don’t have as much money to spend on smartphones, and it has also won them a growing following among the over 65s – 25% of smartphone owners in this age bracket now own an Android device.

By comparison, the iPhone is more expensive and more diversely spread. It is most popular in London, where 42% of smartphone owners use one.

The biggest loser has been Nokia, which has seen declining smartphone sales in the face of stiff competition, but has now partnered with Microsoft to release Nokia-made phones running Windows Phone 7.

The first of these will be available at the end of this year, bringing still more choice to the consumer.

Moneyhighstreet says: “With monthly contract charges taking their toll on household budgets, individual handset prices play an important role in buying decisions.

“For the greatest variety of choice and price, Android has the upper hand. More than 200 different handset models have used the operating system, ranging from high-end phones to low-end ones – and some are now available on pre-paid tariffs.

“That said, Blackberry also offers a good range of phones and prices – though Apple diehards on a budget can always consider snapping up older models as their price drops.”