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Google Maps listed as top smart phone app

Google Maps has come top of a list of favourite smart phone apps, followed by the Yahoo weather app and Facebook.

The GSMA and comScore study found that in April, four in ten mobile broadband users had downloaded and used apps. Of those who had used mobile apps, almost three-quarters, or 6.4 million, had used Google Maps, making it a clear winner.

The next most popular app was Yahoo’s weather app, with 3.57 million users, followed by Facebook. Google Mobile and YouTube completed the smart phone app top five. The other apps in the top 20 mostly provide news, sport and shares updates. To the surprise of some, the wildly popular Angry Birds did not make the list.

Henry Stevens, Media Director at GSMA, said, "Apps have become an important entry point for accessing content on mobile devices and their usage will only increase with the rapid proliferation of smart phones."

Our growing reliance on apps was highlighted last week when Italian-food chain Pizza Express launched its first iPhone app which allows customers to pay for their food using their smart phone.

02, Vodafone and Everything Everywhere have also formed a joint venture to make more goods available for customers via mobile phone.