A mobile web usage survey of 1,001 US residents over the age of 16 has revealed interesting statistics on mobile search.

The study indicates that while currently only 30 percent of mobile users access the Internet on their mobile devices, 75 percent of those also conduct searches. In addition, the study finds that users prefer to search via the major search engines rather than via networks mobile platforms.

Frequency distinguishes mobile Web access. 30% of mobile users access the Internet on their mobile devices, with 50% of them doing so several times a week
Mobile is a search medium. 75% of those who access the mobile Internet conduct searches on their mobile devices.
Search engines rule over carrier search functionality. Mobile searchers prefer navigating directly to mobile-specific versions of major search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, MSN and Ask to using carrier-supplied search functionality (such as search bar or home page box) by a margin of nearly two to one.
Mobile search visibility at a premium. Maps/directions, weather and local information are the content categories of greatest interest to mobile searchers, but the finding that around 75% are not willing to browse beyond the second page of search results puts a premium on mobile search visibility.
Dedicated mobile Web sites a must. An overwhelming 84% of mobile searchers expect the sites they visit frequently to have a dedicated mobile version.