Twitter users are switching rapidly from PCs to mobile phones and tablets as their preferred devices, with 71% of users now using a mobile device compared to 64% using a PC, according to the latest report from Strategy Analytics.
Strategy Analytics surveyed over 6,500 people in the US and Europe between March and October last year.
Between March 2012 and October 2012, the proportion of people who used a desktop or notebook computer for tweeting fell from 77% to 64%. In the same period the proportion who used a mobile phone for tweeting rose from 53% to 64%, and those using a tablet rose from 9% to 18%.
Overall the proportion of Twitter users using a mobile device (either tablet or phone) rose from 56% to 71%.
Strategy Analytics VP of digital consumer practice David Mercer said the immediacy of Twitter communications requires devices which are close to hand at every waking moment. "By definition this suggests mobile phones and tablets should be preferred devices for Tweeting and the survey evidence points clearly in this direction," Mercer said.
The survey also found that the usage of Twitter is highest in the UK, with 21% of respondents saying they frequently use the service at least once a week.
The UK is followed by the US with 18%, Italy with 14%, France with 9% and Germany with 8%.
Strategy Analytics said that in spite of Twitter’s high profile, 78% of those surveyed had not accessed Twitter at all in the past month.
