The subject of mobile phone book reading is one of growing importance to trade publishers. Yet, despite the common availability of research into general e-reading, there was, up to this point, a severe lack of data providing insights into consumers’ attitudes towards reading on their handsets in the US and UK.

1. Mobile Phone eBook Reading
Results of the 2014 survey | #mobilereading

2. Background
The subject of mobile phone book reading is one of growing importance to trade publishers. Yet, despite
the common availability of research into general e-reading, there was, up to this point, a severe lack of
data providing insights into consumers’ attitudes towards reading on their handsets in the US and UK.
Mobile phones offer publishers a unique opportunity; the chance to reach millions of consumers via
devices that are used ever more frequently. There is arguably no better way of getting books into
consumers’ hands. However, most publishers focus their efforts and investment on print, tablets and
dedicated e-readers as the main reading channels and are either unaware or unconvinced by the
possibilities.
Publishing Technology partnered with OnePoll to reveal the current consumer trends in mobile
phone book reading across the US and UK.
The aim of the research was to highlight:
How much consumers are reading on their mobile devices and whether they are reading more now than before
How often they read and how long are their reading sessions
What handsets and platforms are the most popular among readers
The most popular mobile reading genres and most common places to read
Whether books are finished or whether consumers switch their reading between other devices and print
What are the main barriers preventing consumers to read more on their mobile phones
This report provides the key data from this study.

3. Methodology
Publishing Technology partnered with OnePoll who interviewed a total of 3,000 consumers
as part of the online survey
The survey was comprised of two parts:
 It polled 1,000 adult consumers (500 US/500 UK) who have/do read books on their
mobile phones
 It polled 2,000 adult consumers (1,000 US/1,000 UK) who have not/do not read
books on their mobile phones
The research was conducted in August 2014 and the findings presented at CONTEC
Frankfurt, 7th
October 2014.

4. Findings from
Mobile Book Readers

5. Which of the following have you ever done
on your mobile phone?

6. What brand is your phone?

7. How often do you/did you used to read books
on your mobile phone?

8. How do your habits now compare to how often you
read books on your phone a year ago?

9. What books do you/did you used to generally
read on your mobile?

10. What platforms or app do you/did you used to use for
reading books on your mobile?

11. Do/did the books you read on your mobile phone differ from
what you read on other devices?

12. Where do/did you read on your mobile?

13. How long do/did you spend reading a book on your
phone in one sitting?

14. Select the statement that best describes your
reading behaviour on your mobile

15. Would any of the following encourage you to read
more on your mobile phone?

16. Findings from
Non-mobile Book Readers

17. Why don't you read ebooks on your mobile phone
out of the following?

18. Which of the following would encourage you to read
more books on your mobile phone?

19. Survey demographics

20. Gender

21. Age