Toilet internet surfing, its more common than you think!

Smartphones.They are changing the way we access the internet, and in a recent study by Telstra, it turns out people are using smartphones in bed, on the toilet and even whilst driving.

Australia's facination with smartphones has reached new heights with the report finding that over one in three mobile phone users own a smartphone, with expectations that in 12 months time, more than half the Australian mobile population will own a smartphone.

Some interesting facts reveled in the report:

• More than half of smartphone users admit to using their smartphone in bed
• One in three smartphone users have surfed the web whilst on the toilet
• One in five people admit to browsing the internet on their smartphone whilst driving

With the increased accessibility that smartphones are providing, it makes sense that many smartphone users are found to be visiting certain sites more on their smartphones rather than a computer. 28% of people are reported to access their email more on smartphones rather than computers, and one in four people use their smartphones to access social media sites more frequently than via computer.

So beyond the numbers, what does this study actually mean in practice? The main thing to take from it is the growing trend of smartphone owners, and more importantly, the shift from accessing the internet from a fixed location to being able to access the internet at any time, in any place.

Companies need to acknowledge this shift and respond to it. As it becoming increasingly common, companies need to create websites that are designed for smartphones so that consumers can access companies' webpages in an easy to read format. Advertisers need to be able to adapt their digital formats to suit smartphones, as the growth of people using smartphones to access internet is predicted to continue growing.

It will be interesting to see in 12 months time how the percentage of Australians with smartphones changes, as well as the shift from accessing the internet via computers to accessing it via smartphones. I can easily see smartphones thriving and half the Australian mobile population owning one wihtin 12 months.

Fact Sheet:Telstra Smartphone Index