American cell users want more to use more applications: Pew Research

New data from Pew Research Center indicates that American cell phone subscribers want greater access to applications such as maps, weather information and stock quotes. The research firm also notes that text messaging and taking pictures tops the list of applications consumers use the most, with 35% and 28% respectively of American cell phone users admitting to using these features (see table below for more detail). "Fully 47% of cell owners say they would like this feature and 38% say they would like to have instant messages from select friends sent to their cells," reads the report. "Some 24% of cell owners say they would like to use their phones to conduct searches for services such as movie listings, weather reports, and stock quotes. And a similar 24% of cell owners would like to add email to their mobile phone functionality." The results are part a national survey of more than 1,500 Americans done for the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the Associated Press and AOL. Released earlier this month, Pew’s report suggests the cell phone has become an integral part of Americans’ lives and is engrained in many activities. Data from the survey also demonstrates that younger adults use their cell phones differently than older Americans. "Young adults are more likely to reserve their calls until the hours that do not affect the minutes used in their rate plan; more likely to make spontaneous calls when they have free time they want to kill; more likely to use their cell phone to avoid disclosing where they are; and more likely to feel burdened by the intrusions the cell brings into their lives," Pew Research concludes. Results also show that younger Americans have a greater attachment to their devices than older cell phone users. Approximately one-third (32%) of those aged 18 to 29 say they couldn’t live without their cell phone, compared to about one in five (18%) of American cell phone users older than 30. Cell phone usage levels differ greatly when comparing younger and older wireless users. According to the survey results, nearly half (49%) of those 30 years old and younger use their cell phone more than their landline, compared to about one-quarter (24%) of those older than 30. As younger American cell phone users are more likely to use their device more than older users, it stands to reason that the under-30 age group will use the other non-voice features of the cell phone to a much greater degree. About one-third (36%) of younger cell users would like to have the option of instant messages sent to their handhelds compared to one in five (19%) of those over the age of 30. "If they could limit the IM forwards just to select members of their buddy lists, young cell owners would even more avidly embrace the feature: 50% say they would like that, compared with 34% of those 30 and older," reads the report. The study also suggests that a greater number younger Americans are poised to become cell phone-only, expanding the gap between younger and older cell phone users in the United States. According to the results "40% of landline users between the ages of 18 and 29 say they are very likely or somewhat likely to give up their landlines and go cell-only. That compares to 19% of landline owners 30 and older who are pondering a similar switch to cells," reads the report. The survey, conducted between March 8 and March 28, surveyed 1,503 Americans – 752 of them on their landlines and 751 of them on their cell phones – with 1,286 being cell phone users. Results from a sample of this size are accurate to within +/- 3%.

American cell users want more to use more applications: Pew Research

News | 05/04/2006 4:00 am EDT

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