New research has revealed that 31% of consumers connected to internet mobile devices ‘mostly’ use their device to go online, rather than a PC or other device.

According to the latest figures from Pew research, this works out to 17% of all adult mobile owners – smartphones and non-smartphones – who are ‘cell-mostly internet users’.

When asked why they use their mobile device to mostly browse only, the 31% of respondents cited convenience first (38%), followed by ‘cell phone is always with me’ (23%) and ‘mostly do basic activities online (7%).

Meanwhile, the research showed that as of April 2012 over half (55%) of US smartphone owners use their device for internet browsing or email, an 8% increase from May 2011.

The age group with the highest level of mobile phone internet usage is those between 25-34, with 80% of mobile owners in this age group now use their phones to go online, said the report. Adults aged 18-24 also demonstrated high levels of internet use with 75%, followed by those aged 35-44 with 68%.

Seniors, those aged 65 or older, were by far the lowest usage rate of any demographic group with just 16% using their phones to go online.