Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of American mobile phone users are aware of the iPhone, as are 56 percent of British users, according to the M:Metrics "April Benchmark Survey," which researched, inter alia, consumer awareness of and intention to purchase an iPhone, reports MarketingCharts.

In the US, where the iPhone will launch at the end of this month, 14 percent of those who had heard about it reported they were highly interested in buying one. That equates to some 19 million mobile phone users - or about 9 percent of US mobile phone users.

"19 million Americans reported strong interest in purchasing an iPhone - an impressive figure, when you consider that the installed base of most high-end devices rarely approaches one million and respondents were informed of the price point as well as of the AT&T exclusive," noted Mark Donovan, SVP and senior analyst, M:Metrics.

AT&T has a five-year exclusive on the device in the US, but 67 percent of those who were most inclined to purchase an iPhone are subscribers on other carrier networks.

MarketingCharts offers more data from M:Metrics, including US mobile subscriber monthly consumption of content and applications.