Having an intelligent communication device with many functions is not only for business people anymore. In fact, almost half of the total population of America now owns a smartphone, a device which can do much more than just dialing numbers and permitting phone calls.

A new study from Pew Internet & American Life Project has revealed that about 46% of American adults owns a smartphone, or 11% more than May 2011 figure, compared to 41% (mostly people aged 55 or more and those with lower incomes) that own a regular cell phone.

If we are to speak about figures among youngsters, they go even higher as 67% of 18 to 24 year olds and 71% of 25 to 34 year old own a smartphone.

The same survey claims that more than 20% of smartphone owners are using an Android-based device, while 19% had an iPhone and 6%, a Blackberry. Still, smartphones do not automatically makes the owner smarter, but just lazier (albeit more efficient), because while years ago people had to struggle to read a map or orientate in space, now they just use Google Maps, Google Earth or similar systems for tracking all roads and arrive easier and faster to a destination.

However, if nearly one year ago, nearly half of smartphone owners did not know even half of the functions their phones boast of, and had no idea that the device they use is a smartphone, this year things have changed as almost all Americans can now recognize a smartphone device and even their makers and some of their specifications.