E-mail is the most desired mobile phone feature, according to a Webcredible survey of 1,010 mobile phone users in the United Kingdom.

One-third of respondents cited e-mail as their No. 1 priority. Social networking was a close second, garnering 25% of votes.

"The ease of use with regard to accessing e-mail via BlackBerry and PDA devices has certainly caused a ground swell in consumers who want the ability to e-mail on the move through a basic mobile device," said Trenton Moss, director at Webcredible.

"Interesting though," Moss continued, "is the speed with which social networking is becoming a must-have function on mobile."

The least popular service was the ability to shop online, receiving only 9% of votes. This is not surprising, since many issues continue to swirl around usability and security.