Half of US mobile users ignore multimedia features

A new report by The NPD Group says 45% of American mobile phone users don't use the multimedia features on their handsets. In fact, only 20% use their mobiles as an all-in-one device for music, videos, web surfing and other activities. 21% were not sure if their handsets would play music and 23% weren't sure if their phone included GPS - although NPD calculated that 55% of phones sold from January to November 2008 had GPS technology. [Press release]

Apple iPhone takes 17% of the US smartphone market

Researchers at the NPD Group have calculated that the Apple's iPhone devices now account for 17% of the US smartphone market, up from 11% earlier this year. And apparently 30% of all 3G iPhone buyers in the US switched from another network, which is good news for AT&T, Apple's exclusive network partner in the 'States. Average industry churn in the USA is estimated to be 23%. [Source: cnet.com]