• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 2, 2009

Two-thirds of Americans now own a video-enabled mobile device, including iPods, cell phones, and laptop computers, up from less than half three years ago, according to new data being released today by Knowledge Networks. But the new research, which comes from KN's Home Technology Monitor, finds there are very different patterns of video consumption among the devices that more or less seem to follow their screen size.

The study, dubbed "How People Use Mobile Video," is based on the responses of Americans ages 13 to 54 who have broadband Internet access at home, and found that 65.7% of them have at least one video-enabled mobile device, up from 44.9% in a 2006 KN study.

Of course, the definition of what constitutes mobile is relative, but the study indicates that laptop computer are the most prevalent technology, with 57.3% of Americans now owning one, up from 42.8% in 2006.

The penetration of video-enabled iPods has nearly quintupled in the past three years to 22.7% of the population, up from 4.9% in 2006. And video-enabled cell phones have grown to 9.6% of the population, up from 5.9% in 2006.

While 42.6% of users of all the devices said they use them to actually watch video, the percentages vary markedly by device: 35.1% of laptop owners say they have used them to view video vs. only 15.3% of video iPod users, and 4.6% of cell phone users.

The average time spent using each device for video also is quite different. A typical laptop viewing session is 33 minutes long, vs. only 23 minutes for a video iPod and 15 minutes for a cell phone with video service.

David Tice, vice president and group account director at KN and director of The Home Technology Monitor, said the findings are important for advertisers and media content owners alike.

"We see sometimes dramatically different patterns in how people use these devices to watch video - such as at home versus on the go, or how long people typically view," he stated, adding that, "a majority of all viewers are willing to watch ads in exchange for free video."