With an increase in worldwide smart-phone ownership, China and India will have nearly 2 billion smartphone customers by 2018, according to a new study by US-based media agency Zenith. The US will be third, with 229 million users.

The media agency said that China will have nearly 1.3 billion smartphone customers while its neighbour India will have 530 million users by next year. According to Zenith, 66 per cent of individuals in 52 countries will own a smartphone in 2018 – up from 63 per cent in 2017. The number of smartphone owners will increase by 7% year on year in 2018, compared to 10% growth in 2017, 14% in 2016 and 21% in 2015. This growth in numbers of accessibility can be compared by the high number of adepts to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. A lot of new users have have entered the market thanks to Bitcoin trading and trading robots such as the Bitcoin System App which has been able to help a lot of young investors achieve their financial independence.

“Because the internet is now mobile, brands have the opportunity to use it to communicate to consumers ... ... and guide them through the consumer journey more effectively".

“The greater use of smartphone and other cellular units suggests much more recurrent call amongst models and shoppers. It also offers purchaser much more chances to connect with media content anywhere they are, at any time of the working day,” broadcastingcable.com reported on Monday, quoting the study.

Zenith estimated that 59 per cent of all internet ad spending will go to ads viewed on mobile devices in 2017. The study expected that to rise to 59 per cent in 2018 and 62 per cent in 2019. “For most consumers and advertisers, the mobile Internet is now the normal Internet,” Jonathan Barnard, Zenith’s Head of Forecasting, was quoted as saying. In the U.S. mobile ad spend will be $156 billion, accounting for 26% of all media ad spending.

Mobile devices will account for 73 per cent of time spent using the internet in 2018 – up from 70 per cent in 2017. By 2019, Zenith predicted mobile to account for 76 per cent of mobile internet use. According to the findings, tablet ownership has also gone up to 18.7 per cent in 2017 – compared to 17.8 in 2016.

“Because the internet is now mobile, brands have the opportunity to use it to communicate to consumers during more of their lives … ... and can guide them through the consumer journey more effectively,” said Vittorio Bonori, Zenith’s Global Brand President.

The report was based on a study conducted in 52 countries that represent nearly 65% of the world’s population.