Personal computer? Check. High-speed Internet? Got it. Cell phone? Definitely. The checklist of high-tech gadgets and services that Americans can’t live without keeps getting longer, a recent Associated Press poll concluded.
The poll of more than 1,000 adults, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in mid-December, asked participants whether someone in their homes used devices such as DVD players, MP3 players or mobile phones, and whether they themselves had used the gadgets. It then asked those who had used the devices and services to rate the importance of those things in their lives-whether they could easily do without them, would miss them but cope, or couldn’t imagine living without them.
The cellular phone ranked third as the device respondents couldn’t live without it, trailing behind personal computers and high-speed Internet services. A full 75 percent of those polled said that someone in their household had a cellular phone; of those users, more than 40 percent said that they couldn’t imagine living without it. About 34 percent said they “definitely” could live without a mobile phone, and 25 percent said they would miss their phones but could manage.
As far as spending on communications and media services, 32 percent of those polled said they paid more than $200 each month for access to phone, cable and Internet services. Most of the respondents-about 43 percent-spent between $51 and $150 per month. Only 12 percent spent less than $50 monthly on high-tech services.
The poll also asked whether cell-phone users had ever purchased ringtones-only 18 percent said yes.
Eleven percent said that they were either considering or had already bought a wireless phone as a holiday gift.
Fifty-two percent of respondents were women. Most were white, while 12 percent were black, 12 percent Latino and 4 percent Asian. About 30 percent of those polled were between 18 and 34 years old; another 28 percent were between 35-49 years old, and 39 percent were over the age of 50. Most were employed and married, and 49 percent were from the suburbs.
