Four years ago, most of us didn’t know what an app was – and why we would need one.
But the unprecedented rise of smartphone technology and the British public’s eagerness to embrace it means that apps now have a vital role in our day-to-day life.
People in the UK are using apps more than ever.
More than 50% of people now use their phone more for apps than any other purpose, such as emailing, texting or even calling, according to research commissioned by
The Sunday Times newspaper. *
The research also found that:
- Almost 80% of downloaded apps are free
- The average UK smartphone user has around 38 apps on their device
- More than half of them download a new app at least once a week
A list to help you find apps that interest you.
The research coincides with the release of the first Sunday Times Apps List – showcasing the most popular apps across subject areas including culture, entertainment, sport, food, travel, health and science.
Part one of the list was published by the newspaper on January 22nd, with the remaining 250 essential apps set to feature in next weekend’s Sunday Times.
The Sunday Times Apps List 2012 was put together by a team of experienced app reviewers, aided by experts in specialist fields such as fashion and culture.
It features the most popular apps across all
operating systems, including Android, Apple iOS and Windows Phone 7.
Unprecedented demand for apps.
The research also revealed that more than a million apps were available in 2011 and, with half of the UK population now owning a smartphone, users were keen to snap them up – with a staggering 81 million downloads in the UK in the last week of 2011.
*Background info: The research for The Sunday Times was carried out online by Opinion Matters between 11/01/ 2011 and 16/01/ 2011 amongst a panel resulting in 1,005 smartphone/tablet users respondents.
