There’s no doubt that iPhone and iPod Touch users are among the most mobile-web-savvy smartphone users out there. The Mobile Safari web browser has been at the top of the mobile browser market for a good while, only recently losing the No. 1 spot to the Opera Mini mobile web browser. A new study shows that iPhone and iPod Touch users aren’t just using their handhelds as a back-up internet-devices, a good number of Mobile Safari users browse the web more frequently from their iPhone or iPod Touch than their home computer. To be more precise, surveys revealed that 40% of iPhone and iPod Touch owners browse the mobile web more than the desktop web.

The study also finds that half of all iPhone and iPod Touch customers surf the mobile web more than they read printed newspapers, which isn’t all that surprising but still a little sad. Interestingly, we’re told that iPhone owners are generally older and financially better-off than their iPod Touch counterparts.

The mere fact that almost half of all Mobile Safari users are likely to spend more web-browsing time on their handheld device than a full-fledged computer speaks volumes about the mobile web browser’s usability and user experience. Opera Mini and Skyfire are also amazing web browsers, but when it comes to ease-of-surfing, the iPhone is apparently hard to beat – even with a desktop web browser on hand!

The survey was conducted by comScore and AdMob in the first half of 2009. The survey queried 3,848 iPod Touch owners and 3,454 iPhone owners about their daily web browsing habits.

Full press release after the break.

AdMob Unveils New Research on Demographics and Behavioral Characteristics of iPhone and iPod touch Users

SAN MATEO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AdMob, the world’s largest and fastest growing mobile advertising platform, today released new research on the demographics and behavioral characteristics of iPhone and iPod touch users in the US. This research determined that while there are many similarities between users of the two devices, key differences in the demographic makeup of each group exist in areas such as age and household income. The research was conducted by comScore on AdMob’s iPhone network of mobile Web sites and applications, making it representative of AdMob but not necessarily of the mobile population overall.

“This research highlights how important it is for marketers to understand the mobile landscape and the characteristics of the users of a particular platform or mobile device,” said Loftlon Worth, vice president, comScore. “Putting a little extra effort into the planning process can help a mobile campaign be significantly more successful.”

The research also found that 5 in 10 consumers on both iPhone and iPod touch devices use the mobile Web more frequently than they read printed newspapers. More than 40 percent reported using the Internet on their mobile device more often than using the Internet from their computers or listening to the radio.

Highlights from this new research include:

• iPhone users are generally older. 69 percent of iPod touch users are between 13-24 years of age, while this same age segment represents just 26 percent of iPhone users. 31 percent of iPhone users are 35-49 years old, while only 12 percent of iPod touch users fall in this age segment. In total, 74 percent of iPhone users are over the age of 25, compared to 31 percent of iPod touch users.
• More than 70 percent of users on both the iPhone and iPod touch are male.
• In line with the older demographic composition of iPhone users, they also have higher incomes. 78 percent of iPhone users have an annual household income of at least $25,000, compared to only 66 percent of iPod touch users.
• iPhone users are more likely to have children than iPod touch users, most likely due to the age difference in the two groups. 46 percent of iPhone users have children, compared to only 28 percent of iPod touch users.
• In the next six months, iPhone users plan to purchase clothing (57 percent), entertainment (47 percent), and travel (45 percent), while iPod touch users plan to purchase clothing (61 percent), entertainment (53 percent), and cell phones (36 percent).

comScore and AdMob conducted this primary research into the demographics and behavioral characteristics of iPhone and iPod touch users in the first half of 2009. Participants were visitors to domains within the AdMob iPhone network who were shown survey invitation banners rather than banner ads. Those who clicked through the survey banner were presented with the mobile survey. The total sample size of iPod touch participants is 3,848, while the total number of participants in the iPhone sample is 3,454. All results were tested for statistically significant differences at the 95 percent confidence level.

About AdMob

AdMob is the world’s largest mobile advertising platform, serving more than 6.2 billion mobile banner and text ads per month across a wide range of leading mobile Web sites and applications. AdMob helps advertisers connect with a relevant audience of consumers on mobile devices and gives publishers the ability to effectively monetize their mobile traffic. Incorporated in April 2006, AdMob provides the tools, data, and business models fueling the explosive growth of mobile media in more than 160 countries and territories worldwide.

AdMob has been named one of the most innovative companies in advertising and marketing in 2009 by Fast Company magazine, a 2008 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, and one of Wired.com’s 2008 Companies to Watch. AdMob works with thousands of advertisers and publishers, including Adidas, CBS News, Comedy Central, Gap, Lonely Planet, MovieTickets.com, MySpace, P&G, Tapjoy, and Universal Pictures. To learn more about AdMob, visit www.admob.com.