Most Europeans Now Using Smartphones

The number of smartphone users in Europe’s five largest countries grew by 30% in 2012. This brings the total to 136.2 million for Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the UK. This was the first time that all these European countries crossed the 50% threshold for smartphone penetration.

Of these countries, Spain is the one with the highest penetration rate, despite being one of the countries worst affected by the crisis. Spain is followed by the UK, where smartphones are owned by 64% of the population.

In France smartphone penetration only reached 53%, but ComScore predicts that smartphone and tablet penetration will continue to grow steadily in 2013. Just in 2012, tablet purchses increased 94%. ComScore also found that 70% of all new phones purchased in the country are smartphones, so the market should evolve quickly. In the UK this number rises to 82%.