For "Real Time" Help, People Use Smart Phones

Some 70 percent of all mobile phone owners and 86 percent of smart phone owners have used their phones in the previous 30 days to perform at least one form of real-time activity, according to Pew Internet & American Life Project. 


Some 65 percent of smart phone owners say they have used their devices to get turn-by-turn navigation or directions while driving. About 15 percent report doing so on a typical day.


Some 41 percent of mobile phone owners have used their devices to coordinate a meeting or get-together.





About 35 percent they have used their phones to solve an unexpected problem that they or someone else had encountered. 


As you might expect, 30 percent used their devices to decide whether to visit a business, such as a restaurant. Some 27 percent have used their phone to find information to help settle an argument. 


About 23 percent have used their phone to look up a score of a sporting event, while 20 percent looked for traffic or public transit information.


In addition, 19 percent used their mobiles to get help in an emergency situation.


Overall, these “just-in-time” mobile users amount to 62 percent of the entire U.S. adult population.