Everything Everywhere research how many of us use our smartphones for following sport

With more and more of the population using smartphones it would appear that a high percentage of us are taking advantage of the devices to monitor our favorite sports. That’s according to Everything Everywhere who have been doing a little research.

They have discovered that 46% of us are in fact using our smartphones to follow sports with nearly one in five admitting to watching sport under the radar at work. The study also reveals that only 10% of employees are allowed to view national sporting events during working hours.

With Euro 2012 just ending this past weekend Everything Everywhere state that 42% of men followed the coverage while on the move using their Smartphone.

You can check out the full press release below:

Everything Everywhere, the UK’s biggest communications company, today revealed that many Brits will be using their mobile devices to follow sporting and cultural events this year. Nearly half (46%) of online UK adults have used or plan to use their mobile phones to follow events by browsing the internet for news, results or following live scores this year*. Nearly a third (32%) say they have used their tablet or smartphone to watch live sport, according to independent YouGov research[1] commissioned by Everything Everywhere.

With the Euro 2012 final on this past weekend, football has been particularly popular. Nearly one third (31%) of UK adults and 42% of men say they have used their smartphone to follow Euro 2012 this year, through browsing the internet for results or following live scores and news feeds. Over a fifth (22%) of men have also used their phone to watch recorded video clips or live coverage of the competition.

The survey found that as the UK enters a jam-packed summer of events, Britons won’t let work get in the way of their favourite past time. Nearly one fifth (18%) of UK adults admit that they have watched or followed a major sporting event at work without their employer’s consent. Men are the guiltiest of this, with a quarter admitting to watching sport at work under the radar. Ten per cent of employees say they are being allowed to view national sporting events which take place during working hours.

Of those who will be working from home this summer, nearly one quarter (23%) will be doing so more than usual. Despite being a stone’s throw away from their TVs or PCs, nearly one third (29%) of respondents said that they are most likely to use their mobile device to watch or follow events while at home this year. Twenty six per cent are most likely to do this while travelling.

Activity isn’t limited to downloading or streaming content. Some 23% of UK adults say that they have used their mobile phone to upload images or video to social networking sites when attending events, such as musical festivals or sport. This is particularly common with younger generations; a whopping 38% of 18 – 24 year olds and 37% of 25 – 34 year olds say they upload images when out and about at events.

David Salam, Director of Network Strategy, Architecture and Design, Everything Everywhere, said: “As the summer of sport heats up, people will be trying to follow events wherever and whenever they can. Euro 2012 is just one of many events to put pressure on the mobile network this summer, and we have been working hard to ensure our customers the best experience throughout. Through the integration of the Orange and T-Mobile networks, Everything Everywhere offers customers the widest 2G and 3G network in the UK so they will be able to keep tabs on the sport in more places, more of the time.”

As more and more data is downloaded and shared across the UK, Everything Everywhere is investing £1.5bn in the network over the next three years, and plans to roll out next generation 4G in the UK this year, subject to Ofcom approval. With the completion of Smart Signal Share and the launch of 50% faster 3G speeds through the rollout of HSPA+21, customers are able to browse the internet, access social networks and stream video faster and in more places than ever before.

1 All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2156 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20 and 22 June 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

* UK adults referenced in this online survey are those who own a smartphone or tablet