Globally, 60% of smartphone usage is for new activities beyond calls and text messages.

15 February 11 09:14, Noa Parag and Tzahi Hoffman

Famed Internet analyst Mary Meeker presented her take on trends in the Internet and cellular sectors. Meeker, formerly of Morgan Stanley, is now with Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers (KPCB).

Her figures show that the number of smartphone users (3G and above) in the world, as of the third quarter of 2010, is 726 million - yearly growth of 35%. The US has the largest number of smartphone users, at 141 million, followed by Japan with 109 million. Israel is in 26th place in the world, with average annual growth of 18%, to reach 5 million users.

Over the next five years, the mobile trend around the world is expected to grow by 26, with the growth based on services such as location based applications and features which make it easier to report in real time from cellular devices.

In line with popular trends in mobile telecommunications, 60% of the use of smartphones is described as new activities for the users - that is, activities that are not sending email from the cellular phone of carrying out conversations and text messages. The new activities, which are gaining momentum, include maps, cellular games, and social networks.

The number of mobile Facebook users if 200 million users per month - a jump of 300% compared with 2009.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 15, 2011