Earlier this week the astounding numbers regarding Apple’s iPhone and iPad sales created a surge in their market cap moving the stock from $560 per share to $610 in twenty four hours. Also, benefiting from the sales of these products were Verizon and AT&T although actual activations were down quarter over quarter. It seems the only carrier to actually see their subscriber base grow as a result of iPhones sales was Sprint. However, the increase did not improve their revenue side of the ledger. But that’s not the subject for today’s blog. I wanted to know what people are doing with all of these iPhones and other smartphones. Yes, there are others. Samsung actually sells more in total than Apple.

Back to the point, what do people do with smartphones? In two studies conducted by Google and Ipsos OTX MediaCT smartphones users were asked a number of questions revealing how, where and when these devices are used covering the US and several other companies. First, smartphones are in use just about everywhere. I first decided to research this topic when as I waited in my dentist appointment last week, I noticed that everyone (4 people) in the waiting room was using their smartphone. No one read the magazines, no one had a newspaper and I was the only one not absorbed with events outside of the room. Since that time (Wednesday of last week) I have paid much closer attention to how and where people use their smartphones. In the latest report, Our Mobile Planet, 98% of US smartphone users engage their device every day with home and work the most likely places. However, 83% use the devices while walking (a bit dangerous), 76% in a store and 70% in restaurants (annoying).

Why are we using these devices? 82% are surfing the web with 79% interacting with social media, I suspect that the 54% that do this every day have a serious Facebook habit and need a fix.

For the record there are more male users than women, 51% to 49% and as the price of smartphones decreases, the age of users is dropping. In 2010 the largest demographic were users in their thirties, 2011 sees a balance with 25% of 18-24 year olds and 24% of 25-34 adults using smartphones.

Amongst college students text messaging is number 1 with 81% texting often. Reading email is a close second at 77%.

Surprisingly, 20% of users claim a daily purchase with their smartphone. This is very curious as I suspect the purchase may be something that is sought every day such as a cup of coffee or a something low in price such as a song or app.

Not surprising we still have the 20% who foolishly use their smartphone while driving (I hope for conversation or navigation) and the always questionable 40% while using the bathroom.

Finally, smartphones have expanded the world of virtual churches and religion with a recent fatwa (March 29) stating that people may read the Quran on a smartphone.

So, how do you wireless?

See you on Monday.