Wireless Users Regularly Carry Redundant Devices

Conventional wireless industry wisdom is that consumers seek a single wireless device with multiple capabilities built into the handset. However, studies show that most users carry redundant devices, reports In-Stat. For instance, more than 15 percent of people carry two wireless phones, the high-tech market research firm says.

"Eighty percent of the people that have a camera phone say they regularly carry their digital camera, 75 percent of SmartPhone users also carry a PDA, and more than 50 percent of users of multimedia phones also carry their MP3 player," says Bill Hughes, In-Stat analyst. "It is important to understand this customer behavior if the wireless industry is to offer commercially successful solutions."

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Only 43 percent of the respondents to an In-Stat survey, all of whom are business users, stated that higher productivity would be obtained with a SmartPhone.
• Many wireless users consider the additional capabilities offered within a wireless device to be a gift for becoming or remaining a subscriber, and not as a tool that is enhanced with real-time data.
• Almost half the respondents believe that they will carry fewer devices by owning a SmartPhone. As stated, most end up carrying a PDA anyway.

The research, Repetitive Redundancy: The Consumer's Tendency to Carry Duplicate Devices covers consumers' attitudes toward wireless devices and includes results from surveys of wireless telecommunications consumers. It also contains extensive analysis of users' behaviors regarding wireless devices and services.