• by Steve Smith  @popeyesm, June 24, 2013

Early adopter parents discovered years ago that their multimedia-enhanced feature phone and then their smartphone were among the best electronic babysitters that money could buy. In the first years of 3G networks and multimedia streaming, kids programming shot to the top of the popularity charts largely because parents would hand off phones to their impatient kids in cars and waiting lines and in airports to keep them occupied. But as the smartphone revolution reaches maturity in the U.S., a new stage commences as parents of all degrees of tech sophistication embrace the smartphone as a multipurpose tool.

According to research2guidance, parents with minor children will be among the fastest-growing segments adopting devices over the next several years. By 2015, 14 million parents in the U.S. with children three years old or younger will own more than 16 million devices, for a penetration rate of 114%. The company argues that this segment is especially lucrative for app developers because the need for advice, time management, child development recording and other utilities of parenting is so high.

The company says that currently there are about 4700 parental applications across iOS and Android app stores, but that number will escalate to 9500 by 2015. There is opportunity to address core needs of this young parenting group. Apps that help a parent never miss a moment of their child’s development in the form of baby diaries or child development trackers will be important. And of course, there is always the need for providing peace of mind through information and advice.