Majority of US internet now accessed wirelessly

The latest study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has found that the majority of US internet users use a wireless connection.

The April 2009 study found 56 per cent of internet users used a wireless connection, with the most common method being via laptops. However, mobile internet use has grown dramatically, with 32 per cent of those surveyed saying they had used a mobile device to access the internet.

“Mobile access strengthens the three pillars of online engagement: connecting with others, satisfying information queries, and sharing content with others,” said John B. Horrigan, associate director of the Pew Internet Project and principal author of the report.

“With access in their pockets, many Americans are ‘on the fly’ consumers and producers of digital information.”

The survey follows up a similar one in 2007. It found that people’s use of mobile internet devices had risen from 24 per cent to 32 per cent, with the number of people saying they had done this yesterday rising from 11 to 19 per cent.

Another interesting finding was that the African American community was leading the way in mobile internet use. An average of 29 per cent go online with a handheld daily, ten per cent over the average.

“The notion of a digital divide for African Americans has some resonance when thinking about the wireline internet,” said Horrigan. “But when you introduce the mobile internet, the picture changes and African Americans are the pace setters.”