I love August. Things slow down. Congress is in “recess”-one of my favorite activities.
And PrimeCo comes out with its “Flash From the Wireless Front: Fun Facts About Wireless Users.” The survey, according to its accompanying news release, explores the personal communication habits and behaviors of wireless phone users. As much as I’m going to miss that little alien if AirTouch and Bell Atlantic decide to kill it, I’m probably going to miss the survey more.
I’m not going to waste much time rehashing the importance wireless phones play in today’s society. Instead, here are the fun/gross/surprising/not-so-surprising survey results:
Almost 20 percent of Generation Xers use their wireless phones to keep track of someone they are dating. In comparison, not a single Baby Boomer would confess to using a wireless phone to make someone jealous. (I came out on the dignified end of that comparison.) On a related note, women are 67 percent more likely to snoop through a partner’s phone bill looking for suspicious numbers.
More than 25 percent of wireless users said they think they have closer relationships with their sweeties now that they own wireless phones. (Yeah, because they also think they can spy on their “sweeties” via the phone and phone bill.)
Almost 15 percent of America’s wireless users talk on the phone while in the bathroom … and 10 percent even will use the phone in the public restroom. (Who thought up these questions?)
One-fifth of those surveyed said they were “busted” by background noise that gave away their true location. (But I say if you are stupid enough to make a call from a place where you can be busted-like the bathroom or the local tavern-hey, you were going to get caught by your suspicious “sweety” anyway.) The survey also points out that men were 67 percent more likely to get in trouble over suspicious numbers on their wireless bills. However, as family income goes up, the level of snooping through bills for suspicious numbers goes down.
The average “largest” wireless bill is $145. Interestingly, people who make less than $25,000 a year have an average “largest” bill equal to those making up to $100,000 a year.
Nearly a quarter of us admit to repeatedly hitting redial until we complete a call. (I admit falling into this group. The press release categorized this under the “Not So Good” subhead, but I beg to differ. I say, use the phone’s features. Take advantage of those advances in technology.)
Thank goodness only 2 percent of wireless users said they had nicknamed their phone.
