Consumers Ignore Most Apps on their Smartphones

[kojisan]

Interesting article in USA today based on a survey by Pew Research.

The researchers found that "Of smartphone owners, 68% open only five or fewer apps at least once a week". They estimate that between 80-90% of downloaded apps are eventually deleted which is "why the number of downloads is a very poor measure of how popular an app is". Ultimately, after the app fad wears off, "the fun is not there anymore, and you go back to your phone, e-mail and the browser."

Anecdotally, I have found a similar trend among my peers, particualarily those that have gone to Anrdoid and iPhone due to "app" availability. Once the fad of the new toy wears off, most simply use the phone for calls, email, text messages, browsing, weather, cross platform messaging (IM+, google talk, skype). One of the arguments most often used against Blackberry is the lack of apps yet over 2/3rds of users ultimately don't use more than the handful that Blackberry devices are actually very effective at. It sort of makes the whole "app" argument moot. Have a read:

Consumers ignore most apps on their smartphones

[s7khan]

So 30%+ users still use their apps, and as the article says, up to 90 minutes a day mainly on apps. That's a large percentage that constantly have their phones with them showing the phones to their friends and family. Free marketing.

Even if people use 5-6 apps routinely, having a wide variety of apps means that people can get the apps that fit their life primarily. For example, I live in Toronto, if someone worked downtown and commuted to the suburbs, there is an awesome iPhone app for the train schedules. It does not exist for the BlackBerry. There are museum apps that I would imagine most people would download and use mainly for their trip to the museum. I have to date not seen anything similar with the BlackBerry.

No, I think I'll take the apps and delete the ones I don't use. This article does not convince me that apps are a fad. It's kinda like saying programs on computers are a fad since a vast majority of people simply use the browser/MS Office.

[newcollector]

It rings true with me.

[soogriffin]

The only apps I use on a daily basis are Facebook and Weather Channel. For news, I just go to the website on the browser.

[fourboysplus]

I would'nt say apps are a "fad" however I would suggest that most people have downloaded apps only to delete within a few days or keep them and never use them. There are so many apps available but besides the "hey check this out" factor they dont really get used much at all.
My 2cents

[Tõnis]

I don't even have any third party apps on my BlackBerry Bold 9650 (non-camera model) smartphone. I use my BlackBerry for phone calls, texts, BIS (email & BBM), and instant messenging (Yahoo, WLM, Googletalk, AIM). I also use it to store my private files securely.

The main thing that irritatates me about "apps" is the permission settings they want, especially the "free" ones. The other day I looked in App World for a screenshot app. I was reading in some of the descriptions that "if the app delivers a white screen instead of a screen shot" you need to go in permissions and give it every permission under the sun. To make a screen shot??? No thanks, app developers. You can't have my contact list and access to my emails just for giving me some "free" screenshot app. And I definitely won't pay for the pleasure of handing developers my information. I'm not just talking about Jared. There were others like this, too. I got disgusted, exited out of there, and ended up clicking a picture of my screen with my digital camera instead. Looked pretty good, too.

[yunvi]

Consumers ignore most apps on their smartphones

thats so funny considering one of the major "drawbacks" of RIM is the lack of apps for their devices. Pretty funny actually.

I feel sorry for rim because mindsets like mine are the minority. the majority obviously reigns, and they want phones with a billion apps (and proud of that billion), as apposed to a platform with apps that you will actually need (and keep ).

[alnamvet68]

Originally Posted by yunvi

thats so funny considering one of the major "drawbacks" of RIM is the lack of apps for their devices. Pretty funny actually.

I feel sorry for rim because mindsets like mine are the minority. the majority obviously reigns, and they want phones with a billion apps (and proud of that billion), as apposed to a platform with apps that you will actually need (and keep ).

Actually, you/me are in the majority who find that a gazillion apps availability is not even a consideration when looking for a tablet pc. I have a few apps on my iPhone, but only use regularly, and on a daily basis 3, maybe 4. Same with the PB, quite a few apps, of which only a handfull are really used and are practical. The arguement that the PB is a fail due to app selection, or rather lack thereof, is voiced only by a tiny minority, and a majority of dilatantes who claim some sort of techno expertise.

The naysayers, while representing a miniscule of real PB users, have a pretty loud voice...they're like those dirty occupiers who trash our cities, centers of government, our public parks, our private businesses, etc, all under the guise of free speech and social justice...inspite of what you see on the news (and it appears as if there is some sort of massive movement in the US fomenting), they represent less then 1/10th of 1% of Americans, and I am sure the percentage of haters of the PB/BB/RIM is the same.

[steve911]

Yep. I agree with this also. How many applications do you use on your desktop or laptop not including workplace provided ones?

Also, once the HTML5 movement picks up steam most developers will recognize the savings by writing once and easily making it available on any browser out there. Whether its your phone/tablet/or desktop. Developers will be able to have more control on costs and revenue while not being swindled by manufacturers, App stores or licensing agreements.

Thing is when I use my wife's Iphone I tend to play games and stay away from internet browsing. When I use my Playbook I tend to use the internet browser more than the games. Is it because of the limited amount of apps on the Playbook or the crappy browser on the istuff? I don't know yet. But if I could make a wager I would say in the future apps compatible with ONLY one manufacturer will go the way of the Dodo Bird.

[MACKSnare519]

It doesn't matter what a person uses on a day-to-day basis. At least they HAVE that luxury to not use the app. Its still there, regardless.

On my day-to-day, I use Facebook, Plume(Twitter), Tapatalk, Opera Mobile, and Slacker Radio, and depending on the day some kind of office app. And usually some kind of game, probably something simple and fun like Angry Birds. Almost the exact same type of apps I used when my Torch was my daily driver.

But the difference is, when I'm bored, I can fire up HBO Go, Netflix, Need for Speed, Blood n Glory and a host of other games that look like they're from a gaming console.

It's about having that option to do something. And BlackBerry, for the most part is lacking in this department. But honestly, I don't think the amount of apps is the biggest knock. It's the kind of apps, and how the apps function and look in comparison to the same app on an iPhone or Android device.
And that's due in part to the OS being dated and hardware being underpowered.

At least when BBX drops, the OS will be up to snuff, and the hardware will be powerful.

Sent from Motorola ATRIX 2 using Tapatalk

[tmelon]

I think there's a time when that's correct and a time when it's not. Games are apps that come and go, but apps like Netflix, Skype, mobile banking and things like that are there to stay.

I have 175 apps on my iPhone right now and I only use a handful regularly, but it's still nice to have the rest.

[kbz1960]

Yes I love having things I don't use and buying things just in case I want to use it once.

LOL, some are needed but probably most people use a few and that's it.

[dbw1000]

I would say this is true. I use few apps, but I like having a large selection. When I go looking, I want the selection to be large. Also, people use very different apps. It is not the same 5 for everyone. This does not say you don't need a huge app library with compatibility across devices. Apple and Google have proven that it can only help you!

[sallenthornton]

Originally Posted by tmelon

I think there's a time when that's correct and a time when it's not. Games are apps that come and go, but apps like Netflix, Skype, mobile banking and things like that are there to stay.

I have 175 apps on my iPhone right now and I only use a handful regularly, but it's still nice to have the rest.

Absolutly love Netflix on my iPhone. It works great, but I sure do wish my JustinTV app worked correctly.

[daz197]

I used to have an Android, and it used to wear on my nerves sifting through all the ty apps to get to the one gem. It's quality, not quantity... I do think there is probably a number that represents "critical mass", after that you're just duplicating and copying.