A mobile app is software that is downloaded and installed on your cell phone. Applications are used for a number of purposes, including playing games, texting and sending pictures, and accessing the Internet. Some of these apps can be downloaded from an app store, such as the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.
While the term “app” originally referred to a computer program, the popularity of applications has led to a rapid expansion of the industry. These days, many of the most popular applications can be found across multiple categories, such as games, news, weather, and shopping.
The Pew Internet Project survey, which asked a national sample of adult cell phone users how they use their phones, found that a substantial percentage of users had apps installed. In fact, one in four adults in the United States had downloaded at least one app.
According to Nielsen’s Apps Playbook survey of 3,962 adult cell phone subscribers, music and gaming apps ranked second and fifth in the most downloaded list. Other popular categories include social networking, maps and weather, and news/weather.
Compared with the overall population, apps users are more affluent, younger, and more educated. Additionally, heavy cell users are more likely to have an app on their phone.
According to the Pew Internet Project, the majority of active app users report that they have been using their apps within the past 30 days. However, 9% have not used any app in more than 30 days.
