SAN DIEGO-A Leap Wireless International Inc. survey conducted by an independent research firm showed customers of the carrier’s Cricket service who do not also have regular phone service at home increased from 26 percent last June to 37 percent this year.
The report shows similarities to other studies that have found increases in wireline displacement. According to a Yankee Group consumer survey conducted last year, 3 percent of all wireless customers have gone completely wireless, and wireless phones have displaced 25 percent of landline calling minutes. A similar poll conducted last year by USA Today/CNN/Gallup found that 18 percent of U.S. wireless customers were using their wireless phones as their primary phones.
This year’s Leap survey found that 56 percent of Cricket customers without regular phone service at home were between the ages of 18 and 34, which was down from 61 percent in last year’s survey; 75 percent were single, which was the same as last year’s survey results; and 51 percent lived in one- or two-person households, which was an increase from 44 percent last year.
In addition, this year’s survey found that 86 percent of Cricket customers use the wireless service as their primary phones, which was an increase from the more than 80 percent the carrier reported last year.
“This significant increase among our customer base in less than a year demonstrates that we continue to lead a trend of shifting landline minutes to wireless minutes,” said Harvey White, chairman and chief executive officer of Leap.
