It is no surprise that technology is progressing at a rapid rate. Nowadays, you can do almost anything you could do on your computer on your cell phone. Download music, check your e-mail, upload pictures, play games, you name it.

With the invention of smartphones, the most popular being the iPhone, college students can stay connected with friends and family at a faster rate. With all the applications that these phones have it is no wonder a majority of colleges students own a smartphone.

In fact the use of smartphones and other mobile communication devices is a large focus of Ball State’s Emerging Media Initiative, a $17.7 million dollar investment focusing on the historic strengths of the university in media communication to increase benefits to the state of Indiana and give students more entrepreneurial opportunities.

According to the Ball State University, the study found that, in just a few months, the percentage of college students owning a smartphone increased by 27 percent.. Out of the 270 college students surveyed in the study, 38.5 percents of students own smartphones.

Data also concluded that multiple respondents reported to owing 49 models of smartphones. The iPhone, which is the most popular of these multifunctional phones, is used by 18 percent of students.

Apple came out with a faster iPhone in June which cut the price of the original phone to $99.  By doing this, iPhone sales spiked from July to September, in fact 7.4 million phones sold, which is half a million more than in the same months in 2008.

“There is no doubt that the iPhone is very popular with all its applications that college students love,” said Michael Hanley, an assistant professor of journalism and director of Ball State’s Institute for Mobile Media Research, in a released statement.

Google is in the process of releasing new models of smartphones within the next few months which will undoubtedly increase the popularity of this innovative technology.

“Smartphones are changing the game when it comes to mobile communications among college students, who are among the first people to embrace new technologies,” Hanley said.

Students are using these phones more because of the quick access to the Web. According to the study, nearly two-thirds of students e-mail on their phones, which is a 5 percent increase from February. What is not surprising is that 65 percent of students use their smartphone to access sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Other interesting statistics found in the study were, 84 percent of students own a smartphone that has a GPS locator and half reported to use of the application. About 60 percent of students have downloaded an application in the past few months, and about 24 percent of students have downloaded or purchased music on their phone.

The invention of the smartphones has allowed students faster access to their friends, the latest trends in music, fashion, and pop culture. Ball State’s study has concluded that the growth of these phones will only increase in the years to come.