• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Sprint Survey Finds Two Thirds of Detroit Wireless Subscribers Use Mobile Phones for Much More Than Just Talking

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 12:00 CST

Respondents express interest in a variety of communication and entertainment applications that make the "third screen" more valuable than ever

Today Sprint (NYSE:S) announced the results of the Sprint U.S. Consumer Wireless Usage Study, a nationwide survey of wireless phone users. The Detroit findings show two-thirds of wireless phone subscribers (66 percent) rely on their mobile phones for features such as cameras, clocks, calendars, instant and picture messaging, games, music and even as a substitute for seeing in dark places.

"The list of features and data applications available on mobile phones continues to grow to meet the needs of consumers here in Detroit and around Michigan," said Glen Flowers, Michigan's area vice president of consumer solutions for Sprint Nextel. "The vision of Sprint is to deliver the broadest choices, the greatest flexibility and the innovative tools that empower our customers to do what they want ...when they want ...at-home, at-work, or on-the-go. And, wireless subscribers throughout Michigan are finding that the mobile phone is the one item they depend on most to stay connected and entertained."

One popular feature might even put an end to the age-old in-car argument over the need to stop for directions. Two-thirds of Detroiters (68 percent) said they would use their wireless phone to retrieve maps or directions. Cameras remain popular with wireless users, with 44 percent expressing interest in the product. Walkie-talkies and DSL-like speeds for data services are also popular with consumers, each cited by 48 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

Showing further evidence of the interest in camera phones, 50 percent of camera-phone owners in Detroit claim to take photos with their phone. The overwhelming majority of these "phone-tographers" (97 percent) use their camera phones for spontaneous pictures. More than one-third take pictures at family gatherings (36 percent), of their pets (31 percent), or snap shots at celebrations (35 percent) or on vacation (26 percent). Respondents also use their camera phone while shopping (20 percent), at concerts (23 percent) and for business purposes (16 percent).

Detroit wireless subscribers who currently play games on their phones shared some interesting insight into their gaming habits. Fifty-six percent claim to have played games in the doctor's office, 55 percent while commuting on the bus or train, 46 percent while at the airport and more than one-third of gamers (34 percent) admit to using the bathroom as a game room.

"The mobile games industry continues to see phenomenal growth and Sprint, which has the longest history in mobile games of any other carrier provides the most advanced mobile gaming experience," Flowers said. "For example, Sprint launched the industry's first carrier-based game community, a status points program, 3D games and an easy-to-use game presentation."

The survey found that the backlight on phones is a useful tool in a variety of settings. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62 percent) have used the backlight to look for something in the dark, 54 percent to locate a keyhole, 44 percent to guide their way through the dark and 18 percent to read. Additionally, 5 percent have used their backlight to replace a lighter at a concert.

Consumers are still flipping for flip phones, the phone style preferred by 69 percent of Detroit respondents. The next most popular was a "candy bar" style phone, savored by 17 percent. The rugged and slider phones were each the style of choice for 5 percent. And when it comes to phone color, silver is more popular than black with 40 percent versus 32 percent preferring the color.

With each new model, the wireless phone seems to increasingly resemble a gadget found in a James Bond movie. This survey identified some "out of the box" product additions that may not turn Detroit users into spies, but could turn the mobile phone into an even more unusual multi-purpose marvel. With more than one-quarter support, 30 percent of respondents want a printer/scanner/fax incorporated into their phone. A credit card was the next most popular, garnering 18 percent support, followed by a thermometer, money/business cardholder and a key chain, receiving 17, 14 and 12 percent respectively.

When asked what more mainstream features and functions Detroiters might be interested in adding to their phone, music players topped the list (25 percent), closely followed by instant messaging (24 percent) and still image cameras (20 percent). A healthy portion of respondents expressed interest in video cameras too (16 percent).

Consumers can take a short, two-minute quiz about their mobile phone use at www.sprint.com/phonefinder to find out which phones best meet their needs.

To download the complete findings of the Sprint U.S. Consumer Wireless Usage Study, please visit http://www.sprint.com/.

About the Survey

Conducted in October 2005, the Sprint U.S. Consumer Wireless Usage Study is based on an online survey among a sample of Detroit adults subscribing to wireless phone services. Of the 252 participants, 51 percent were male and 49 percent were female.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category