Foolish Take: Nearly 80% of Americans own smartphones

Foolish Take: Nearly 80% of Americans own smartphones

Before Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) launched the first iPhone in 2007, the smartphone was considered a niche enterprise device. But the iPhone and devices that followed changed all that, and the smartphone became an indispensable tool for mainstream consumers.

Seventy-eight percent of Americans now own smartphones, according to Walker Sands' 2017 Future of Retail survey, which polled over 1,600 consumers. That technological shift has forced companies across many industries to create better mobile apps and websites while adopting social media marketing strategies to reach more consumers.

However, the smartphone market has become saturated in recent years. Worldwide smartphone shipments slipped 0.1% to 1.47 billion units in 2017, according to IDC's latest numbers. Now, many companies are turning their attention towards emerging devices like wearables, virtual reality (VR) headsets, streaming TV products, and consumer drones.

Walmart, for example, recently acquired a VR startup to develop VR apps, while other companies are creating new skills for Amazon's Echo smart speakers.

None of these newer devices will replace smartphones anytime soon, but they could give companies fresh ways to reach consumers.

More: Foolish Take: Is the PC market finally stabilizing?

More: Foolish Take: Streaming video hasn't killed broadcast TV (yet)

More: Foolish Take: Social media influencers still prefer Instagram

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Leo Sun owns shares of AMZN. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends AMZN and Apple. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysisandcommentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Offer from the Motley Fool: Offer from The Motley Fool: The 10 best stocks to buy now Motley Fool co-founders Tom and David Gardner have spent more than a decade beating the market. In fact, the newsletter they run, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the S&P 500!*

Tom and David just revealed their ten top stock picks for investors to buy right now.

Click here to get access to the full list!

Images Powered by Shutterstock