Comparing the April survey to a similar survey in 2007, there were strong increases in the incidence of people accessing the internet with their handheld devices. For our purposes, the means using a cell phone or other connected gadget to share email, exchange instant messages, or access the net for information. Among cell phone users:

• In 2007, 14% accessed the internet on a handheld on the typical day and 32% had ever used the internet on their handheld.
• In 2009, 23% accessed the internet on a handheld on the typical day and 38% had ever used the internet on their handheld.

The rate at which Americans went online with their handheld on the typical day increased by 73% in the sixteen months between the 2007 and 2009 surveys. The measure for “ever having used the internet on a handheld” increased by 33% in that time frame.