Mobile Web Usage Triples in U.S., Study Says

LONDON — More and more consumers are surfing the Internet on their mobile phones, resulting in a three-fold increase in the U.S. over the last year, according to a new study released by mobile web promotions company Bango.com.

The study said that 21 percent of mobile users worldwide live in the U.S., while South Africa contributed 11 percent and India counted for another 9 percent.

According to the study, the U.K. remains the worldwide capital for mobile web usage, accounting for 27 percent of all users.

But the study was only based on mobile web traffic that passed through Bango's many mobile web portals. Bango provides businesses with a variety of ways to help its customers move from standard online websites to mobile websites and vice-versa.

Anil Malhotra, executive vice president of marketing for Bango, told XBIZ that although the company only handles about 10 percent of mobile web traffic worldwide, Bango's diverse client base added legitimacy to its study.

"The numbers we gathered are significant enough for the data to be meaningful," he said.

But what's causing more people to surf the Internet with their cellphones? Malhotra attributed the increase in mobile web traffic to three trends:

  • More companies are offering more and better content on their mobile websites. The presence of better content is attracting more surfers, Malhotra said.
  • Mobile web providers have started to charge flat rates for surfers, as opposed to the download-by-download charges that characterized the early mobile Internet.
  • The mobile Internet is becoming more like the regular Internet. Yahoo and Google have both established stronger presences on the mobile web, and Malhotra said that's only the beginning.
  • As for the future of the mobile Internet, Malhotra said there's a difference of opinion in the mobile web community. Some think that consumers will only use the mobile web for what he called "imperative" services — sports scores, flight times and directions.

    Others like Malhotra maintain that as the mobile Internet becomes more like the regular Internet, consumers will surf on their phones for the same reasons they surf on their computers: to stay informed, shop for clothes — and especially to procrastinate.

    Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
    Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

    More News

    Flirt4Free Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against Copycat Website

    The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has ruled in favor of Flirt4Free in a case against a copycat website using an infringing domain.

    Irish PM Affirms Plan for UK-Style Ban on 'Extreme' Content

    Ireland’s prime minister on Wednesday confirmed that his government is moving ahead with plans to introduce legislation criminalizing possession and distribution of “extreme” pornography, which he hopes to see passed by early 2027.

    UK Parliamentary Group Calls for Outlawing Cam Platforms

    The U.K. Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Commercial Sexual Exploitation has published a report in which it calls for banning adult livestreaming platforms.

    Ofcom Escalates Sun Social, Superb Convert Investigations

    U.K. media regulator Ofcom has ramped up its ongoing Online Safety Act (OSA) compliance investigations into PlayVids/PeekVids operator Sun Social Media and PimpBunny operator Superb Convert.

    Centrobill Rolls Out Apple Pay, Google Pay Options

    Centrobill has added Apple Pay and Google Pay options for merchants.

    Judge Preliminarily Approves Pornhub Class Action Settlement

    A U.S. District Court judge on Monday granted preliminary approval to a settlement between Aylo and the plaintiffs in two class-action lawsuits over allegations that former Pornhub parent company MindGeek knowingly allowed and profited from CSAM on its sites.

    Roald Riepen Steps Down as CEO of IMC

    Roald Riepen, CEO of International Media Company (IMC), is stepping down.

    Ofcom Sets Timeline for Enforcing 'Extreme' Content Rules

    Before U.K. media regulator Ofcom begins enforcing new laws criminalizing certain “extreme” adult content online, it will first hold a consultation in early 2027, and then provide updated guidance for sites and platforms.

    FSC Publishes Guidance on New UK Pornography Laws

    The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published information for its members on the United Kingdom's recently passed pornography laws, which take effect next week.

    Brazil Issues Guide to Digital Safety Compliance

    Brazil’s National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) published on Wednesday a new guide outlining online providers’ child-protection responsibilities under the Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents (Digital ECA), which requires adult websites to age-verify users located in Brazil.

    Show More