It is helpful to put the current survey findings about the types of apps adults download in broader context.  According to Nielsen’s quarterly Mobile Insights Survey, games continue to be the most popular apps in terms of use in the 30 days prior to the survey. In the second quarter of 2011, Nielsen reported that 64% of app downloaders in their survey had used a game app in the prior 30 days.  Next most widely used were weather apps (60%), followed by social networking (56%), maps/navigation/search (51%), music (44%) and news (39%).  Less widely used by their sample were health apps, used by just 13% of downloaders in the month prior to the survey, and education apps (11%). 

Nielsen also finds that downloaders are more willing to pay for game apps than other category. Among their sample of app downloaders, 93% said they are willing to pay for the games they play.  Large percentages of downloaders also said they were willing to pay for entertainment apps (87%), productivity apps (84%), maps/navigation/search apps (84%), food apps (77%) and news apps (76%).