The number of people using their mobile device to access news and information online more than doubled from January 2008 to January 2009, according to comScoreAmong the 63.2 million people who accessed news and information on their mobile devices in January 2009, 22.4 million (35%) did so daily; more than double the size of the audience last year.

"Over the course of the past year, we have seen use of mobile Internet evolve from an occasional activity to being a daily part of people's lives," said Mark Donovan, senior vice president, mobile, comScore.

"This underscores the growing importance of the mobile medium as consumers become more reliant on their mobile devices to access time-sensitive and utilitarian information." In January, 22.3 million people accessed news and information via a downloaded application.

Maps are the most downloaded application with 8.2 million users, while search was the most popular use for SMS-based news and information access, with 14.1 million usersOverall, 32.4 million people used SMS to access news and information in January.

Young males are the most avid users of mobile news and information, with half of 18 to 34-year-old males engaging in the activityThe mobile Internet is also popular among females in the 18 to 24-year -old demographic, with 40 percent accessing it at least once in January.

"Social networking and blogging have emerged as very popular daily uses of the mobile Web and these activities are growing at a torrid pace," said Donovan"We also note that much of the growth in news and information usage is driven by the increased popularity of downloaded applications, such as those offered for the iPhone, and by text-based searches.

"While smartphones and high-end feature phones, like the Samsung Instinct and LG Dare comprise the Top 10 devices used for news and information access, 70 percent of those accessing mobile Internet content are using feature phones."  .