New research findings from the Pew Research Center indicate that smartphone usage has risen to be one of the key drivers of Internet usage adoption. The findings, which tracked a number of metrics including age, gender and income level, show that in 2000, Internet usage could be tracked using common metrics such as age and gender. With the rise and proliferation of smartphone usage in the US, these metrics have all but disappeared as more people use their phones to access the Internet regardless of their age and gender.

Smartphones – Image via Photobucket

For example, the launch of the iPhone into the US market saw smartphone adoption quadruple in five years, something other smartphones such as the BlackBerry range of phones did not achieve.

The more recent launch of the iPad, iPhone 4S and the Lumia 900 have all worked to peak this adoption of the Internet as most of these phones thrive on data-driven applications.

Another important aspect that the research findings have identified is the role social media has played in driving Internet adoption. The report notes that over the last four years, the number of persons over the age of 74 using social media websites has grown four times.

Other aspects that come to light include the fact that the gap between access of minorities and whites is also diminishing, whereas access to broadband at home is still a disparate matter. This is also narrowing, as universal broadband access becomes a reality through mobile broadband.

However, the report does point to a continuing trend from what the company tracked back in 2000 and the company says it expects this upward trend of Internet adoption to continue.

SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH

About Daniel Mbure

Daniel is a writer, strategist and serial tech entrepreneur. Follow Daniel on Twitter @thespianic