Smartphone such as the iPhone and the BlackBerry is called a feature phone and according to the latest report from the NPD Group, the feature phone is by far the most popular device category in the mobile phone market. In Q2 feature phones reportedly accounted for 72% of all mobile phones sold. At the same time, smartphones accounted for 28% of the devices purchased.

Feature phones, which are dumb phones that have elements (but not the full connectivity) of smartphones, accounted for an astounding 72 percent of new handset sales in the U.S. in the second quarter, according to a new report by NPD.

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That seems rather one sided until you consider that as much of the market as feature phones hold right now, the share is declining. Feature phone sales fell 5% compared to the previous quarter. Overall handset sales volume in the U.S. for Q2 grew by 14% and the average selling price for a phone was $87. The m ost popular feature phones in the market were the LG enV2 and the Samsung Rant. The iPhone 3G and Blackberry Curve were the most popular smartphones.

Most of the news we hear and much of the focus in the mobile phone industry is placed on the smartphone segment. Despite the focus, the vast majority of mobile phone sold in the U.S. are not smartphones.

The NPD Group has issued a report that shows a full 72% of all handsets sold in America are feature phones. Smartphones hold 28% of the mobile phone market. NPD reports that as smartphones are growing, the feature phone segment is shrinking with a decline of 5% compared to Q1.

The most popular feature phones on the market are the LG enV2 and the Samsung Rant according to NPG Group. The number of handsets sold that feature Wi-Fi has grown as well with 20% of all devices sold offering the feature