A new survey suggests that smartphone users are unlikely to pay for apps for their phones. (Michael Felberbaum/ Associated Press)

Few smartphone users buy additional applications for their phones, and many end up deleting them soon after downloading anyway, according to a recent survey.

Smartphones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry or Android-powered phones are capable of increasing their functionality by downloading additional apps from virtual app stores. Though many of these apps are independently created and user-generated, apps are published by companies such as Adobe and Microsoft as well. Some apps are free for download, and others cost a few dollars to add to your phone.

At the Apple app store, some of the most popular apps are games, GPS interfaces, organizational tools and news aggregators.

The survey, published by Nielsen and The Pew Research Centre, indicates that only 13 per cent of adults have ever paid for an app on their smartphone, and if they have, it's usually comparably inexpensive. The survey also suggests that only 35 per cent of adult cellphone users have apps on their smartphones, and of that 35 per cent, only 24 per cent actually use them, and more than half of downloaded apps are deleted within two weeks.

What kind of apps do you buy for your phone (if any)? Share your favourites in the comment section below.