Mobile games are getting more popular, according to the Handango Yardstick for the first half of 2008. The games category moved from fourth place at the end of last year to the second spot, behind the entertainment category, for the first time in the Yardstick’s history.

That’s an indication that categories focused on “killing time” are now surpassing the categories known for “saving time,” such as business and productivity apps, in unit sales, Handango said. Strong sales of popular titles from brands such as EA Mobile and Capcom Interactive are helping the games category.

In a separate Handango survey that measured consumer smartphone behavior and opinion, 86% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that smartphone content makes their lives easier while 76% agreed that it made their lives more enjoyable.

In the first half of 2008, Handango added more than 370 developer partners to its roster of more than 23,000. Handango’s catalog now exceeds 140,000 apps spanning categories including entertainment, games, productivity, business & professional, utilities, travel, health & fitness and more.

Business and professional applications, No. 4 in 2007, moved up to third place, suggesting smartphone owners are now using their devices as mini-entertainment centers in addition to the traditional business use, Handango said. Productivity applications, such as address book and calendar, took fourth place.

The Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry 8830 and BlackBerry Curve were the top two devices adding software in the first half of 2008. The BlackBerry Curve moved up from the No. 4 position in the second half of 2007. More than 1,000 new mobile applications were added to the BlackBerry catalog during the period.