Telling the difference between a regular cellphone and a smartphone can be a bit confusing. Most people just assume that everyone owns a smartphone today, while a new study shows that in reality the smartphone has not quite hit the 50 percent market share point just yet. Cellphones are massively prevalent in today's society, but in order to qualify as a smartphone, the cellular phone you own must have an advanced operating system like Android (News - Alert), iOS or Blackberry. 

Because of the sheer numbers of smartphones that are out on the market these days, the market share is getting very close to the 50 percent tipping point. Among young people that tipping point was left in the dust a while back.

A new Nielsen survey shows that among young adults between the ages of 25 and 34, 62 percent of respondents now own smartphones. This particular group of young adults actually have the largest consolidation of smartphone owners. Among college age cellphone owners (18-24), 54 percent have a smartphone. Cellphone users aged 35-44 have 53 percent of that group owning smartphones.

The interesting part is how few members of the bookend ages own smartphones. Just 39 percent of cellphone users aged 45-54 own a smartphone, which is a very similar number of the kids aged 13 to 17 (38 percent) who own smartphones. The study clearly delineates the age groups that will be easily reached with apps and other bells and whistles that only smartphones can offer.

Obviously the main reason that smartphones are gaining in popularity is just how easy it is to get one. It seems like every week, companies like LG are releasing new models. Android especially has flooded the cellphone market, giving people plenty of choices when it comes to buying a new cellphone. 

The fact that there are now so many smartphones out on the market these days also drives down the price. Non-smartphone cells are still going to be able to be had for less money on average, but the lower end smartphones have begun competing with other phones price-wise and that will help drive up the market share in the very near future.