More users in the United States are making the move to smartphones, and they are opting for Apple’s iPhone and Android phones by Samsung in increasing numbers. The NPD Group’s Connected Home Report has been released for Q4 2013, and shows Apple continuing to widen their lead over Samsung in the American smartphone race.
NPD:
Apple and Samsung were the winners as more consumers migrated to their flagship devices. iPhone ownership increased from 35 percent in Q4 2012 to 42 percent in Q4 2013. Likewise, Samsung Android phones increased from 22 percent of smartphones owned in Q4 2012 to 26 percent in Q4 2013. In contrast, fewer smartphone owners reported having an HTC, Motorola, or Blackberry device in Q4 2013.
Consumers data usage expanded along with smartphone penetration, with usage jumping to 6.6GB per month in Q4 2013. That’s up from 5.5GB per month in Q4 2012. A key driver of increased data usage has been the usage of streaming music services such as Pandora and iHeart Radio.
The Connected Intelligence Smartphone Usage Report says the percentage of smartphone users streaming music via an app jumped from 41% in Q4 2012, all the way up to 52% in Q4 2013.
