BOSTON-The typical cellular phone user now makes 10 calls every week but only 15 percent of subscribers would increase usage significantly if prices were cut by 10 percent, according to a new study from the Yankee Group.
In its “1996 Mobile User Survey” the market research company found that 91 percent of consumers are satisfied with their current cellular service and 60 percent make the majority of their calls within their metro area although nearly the same percentage agreed that having nationwide coverage is important. The average price paid for a cellular phone is $142.
The average respondent to the survey works about 51 hours per week but 39 percent of their time is away from their primary workspace. Their mean commuting time is 29 minutes. Nearly half of pager users carry their wireless device on weekends or after work.
Sixty-one percent of portable computer users are interested in using wireless data services although about the same number believe it is too expensive. Slightly more think it is important to have ubiquitous, nationwide wireless data coverage and only a third feel it is still too complicated to send data wirelessly.
