Smartphones Becoming "Data-First" Devices

A new analysis by network analysis firm Arieso suggests that smartphone users do not make more phone calls when they switch to using the devices, but obviously consume lots more data, suggesting that smartphone subscribers use their devices first and foremost for data consumption rather than making phone calls.

It appears the trend intensifies with new generations of devices, as well. Apple iPhone 4 users engage in 44 percent more data sessions, compared to iPhone 3 devics, for example, and also consumer 41 percent more data to their devices, and spending 67 percent more time connected to the network for data.

Google Android OS users also are particularly “data hungry”, scoring higher than both the iPhone3G and iPhone 4 in terms of data sessions, time connected to the network, and data volume (in kilobits per subscriber) uploaded and downloaded.

Android-powered smartphone users also score highest in both the “uplink data volume” and the “downlink data” categories. For example, Samsung Galaxy Tab users typically upload 126 percent more data than iPhone3G users, and HTC Desire users download 41 percent more data than iPhone3G users. The Tab, though, is a tablet PC, not a smartphone, and PC users virtually always consume more data than smartphone users.

Arieso reveals hungriest users of mobile data