Making calls is now the fifth most-used function on smartphones

Mobile phones started life as machines built for talking - but actually making calls is now one of their least popular functions.

Smartphone owners now spend just 12 minutes talking on their phones a day - but spend two hours using the gizmos.

Texting - formerly one of the reasons people became addicted to phones - is now less popular, with users spending just 10 minutes sending messages.

In terms of time spent, British users spend more time surfing the internet, checking social networking sites, playing games and listening to music.

The study of 2,000 smart phone users marking the launch of the Samsung found we spend almost 25 minutes a day surfing the internet.

Mobile phone users also spend a further 17 minutes checking and updating social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

In comparison, just 12 minutes is spent actually talking to someone on a phone call, while sending text messages accounts for only ten minutes of use a day.

David Johnson, General Manager Devices for O2 in the UK, which commissioned the research, said: ‘Smartphones are now being used like a digital ‘Swiss Army Knife’, replacing possessions like watches, cameras, books and even laptops.

‘While we’re seeing no let-up in the number of calls customers make or the amount of time they spend speaking on their phones, their phone now plays a far greater role in all aspects of their lives.

‘Smart technology has improved in dramatically with the camera, diary, email and social media hardware and apps where design attention has been lavished.

‘Now that it’s so easy to use, there’s no surprise that consumers are switching to phones for these functions.’

Researchers also found for many the smartphone is replacing other possessions including alarm clocks, watches, cameras, diaries and even laptops and TVs as they become more intuitive and easier to use for things ‘beyond calls’.

More than half - 54% - now use their phones in place of an alarm clock, while 46 per cent have dispensed with a watch in favour of their smart phone.

39% per cent have switched to use their phone instead of a separate camera and more than a quarter even use their phone in place of a laptop.

One in ten have even replaced their games console with their phone, while six per cent use it as a TV.

Another six per cent have stopped reading books in favour of viewing the text on their phones.

Source: Daily Mail