The cellphone habits of South Africans have changed dramatically in the past year on the back of smartphones and mobile Internet’s entry to the mainstream market, World Wide Worx said on Wednesday.

Thirty-nine percent of urban South Africans and 27% of rural users over the age of 16 were now browsing the Internet on their phones, it found in its Mobility 2011 research project, backed by First National Bank.

The study represented about 20m South Africans aged 16 and above, which meant that at least 6m South Africans now had Internet access on their phones, it said.

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstruck said MXit was the most popular service on cellphones and was used by 24% of cellphone users, while Facebook attracted 22% of cellphone users.

Twitter was expected to become a key mobile tool and almost catch up to MXit in the coming year, from six percent of cellular users at the end of 2010. The study also found an increase in e-mail usage by rural cellphone users.

“The fact that [e-mail usage by rural cellphone users] was almost nonexistent a year before means the 12% penetration reported for 2010 indicates mobile e-mail becoming a mainstream tool across the population,” said Goldstuck.

Cellphone banking had also surged in 2010 as South Africans gained confidence in its safety and efficiency.

“Most of this growth in usage comes off the back of another surprising finding: more than 80% of cellphone banking users are satisfied with the security of cellphone banking.

“Previous studies had shown satisfaction with security as below 60%, indicating that market education and experience has made the difference in uptake,” he said.

FNB cellphone banking solutions CEO Ravesh Ramlakan said cellphone users across the board were driven by the “anywhere, anytime” concept of banking.

He said cellphone banking peaked at 41% in the 26-to-34-year age group, dropping to 11% in the over-45 group. Male usage outpaced that of female, at 56% compared to 44%. — Sapa