Boy, do we love sending text messages, telling the world where we are on FourSquare and Tweeting what we had for breakfast. A recent report conducted by comScore Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) might have some clues about what’s next for telecom exchange traded funds (ETFs).
The comScore Mobilens service ranked leading mobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and smartphone platforms in the United States by usage of subscribers ages 13 and older, and the service reviewed the most popular contents accessed through the mobile devices, writes Stephanie Lyn Flosi for comScore. What they found might be useful if you’re looking for a telecom ETF to buy:
- Between the three months of November 2009 and February 2010, Motorola (NYSE: MOT) was the top handset manufacturer with 22.3% market share and RIM (the maker of the BlackBerry) was top among smartphone platforms with 42.1% market share. [What’s Got the Telecom ETFs Down?]
- In the three month average, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older were mobile subscribers. Motorola saw a decrease to 22.3% market share in February compared to 24.2% in November, LG was unchanged at 21.7%, Samsung increased by 0.4% to 21.4%, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) diminished 0.6% to 8.7% and RIM jumped 1.7% to 8.2%.
- RIM remained the leading mobile smartphone platform in the United States and saw an increase of 1.3% market share to 42.1% between November and February. [5 ETFs for a Google-Less China.]
- Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) diminished 0.1% to 25.4%, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) decreased 4% to 15.1%, Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android jumped 5.2% to 9.0% and Palm (NASDAQ: PALM) dropped 1.8% to 5.4%. [What’s Got the Telecom ETFs Down?]
- In an average month between November through February, 64% of U.S. mobile subscribers sent text messages on mobile devices (not while driving, though…right?), browser usage was 29.4%, downloading apps 27.5%, playing games 21.9%, accessing social networking 18.0% and listening to music 13.1%. [Semiconductor ETFs: Destined for Greatness?]
Bottom line? We’re more attached to our mobile devices than ever. Increasing levels of partnership between service providers and smartphone makers could benefit both technology-focused and telecom ETFs in the end. Take your pick, then hit Twitter to tell your friends about it.
For more information on the mobile phone industry, visit our telecommunications category.
- Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLK) and iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology (NYSEArca: IYW): Holds Apple, Google, Verizon and Motorola, making these fund close to an all-in-one play on both areas.
- Vanguard Telecom Services (NYSEArca: VOX)
- iShares Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications (NYSEArca: IYZ)
- PowerShares Dynamic Telecom & Wireless Portfolio (NYSEArca: PTE)
Max Chen contributed to this article.
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.