More than half of Americans—56%—report having used wireless means to gain online access, according to a Pew Research report that examines how Americans are accessing the Internet by wireless means using a range of devices—laptops, handheld devices (including cell phones and smartphones), gaming consoles, and e-book readers.

Conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, an April 2009 survey asked US respondents whether they had used a variety of devices. Wireless access via laptop and mobile devices account for most US wireless access, as 51% of Americans have gotten online using either of these two methods:

  • 39% say they have used a laptop computer to go online wirelessly—the most prevalent means of wireless access.
  • 32% say they have gotten online with a mobile device—a cell phone or other handheld device—to check email, access the Internet for information, or send instant messages.
  • Some 19% of Americans say they have used laptops as well as handheld device for online access.

Use of the Internet on mobile devices has grown sharply from the end of 2007 to the beginning of 2009.

  • In December 2007, 24% of Americans said they had accessed the Internet via their mobile device; by April 2009, 32% of Americans said so.
  • In December 2007, 11% of Americans said they had "yesterday" accessed the Internet on their mobile; by April 2009, 19% of Americans said so.

African Americans are the most active users of the mobile Internet—and their use of it is also the fastest-growing. When mobile access is taken into account, the digital divide between African Americans and white Americans diminishes:

  • 48% of Africans Americans have used their mobile device to access the Internet for information, emailing, or instant messaging; that's 50% higher than the national average of 32%.
  • 29% of African Americans use the Internet on their handheld on an average day, also nearly 50% higher than the national average of 19%.
  • Compared with 2007, when 12% of African Americans used the Internet on their mobile on the average day, their use of the mobile Internet is up 141%.

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US Wireless-Internet Use Soars

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