The recently released Vlingo Consumer Mobile Messaging Habits Report finds that nearly 60% of mobile phone owners use their phones to text, with teens leading the way (94%), followed by 20-somethings (87%), 40-somethings (64%), and 50-somethings (46%).
Among all users, texting is also gaining on sending/receiving calls as the primary use of mobile phones, with 35% of all respondents using their phones for texting more than for phone calls.
Here are some other key findings among all those surveyed:
- In terms of texting, the 13 to 19 age group remains the most active, sending on average more than 500 texts per month;
- 73% do not use email on their mobile phones;
- 70% do not browse the Web;
- 41% do not text;
- 44% cite cost as a barrier to adopting text messaging;
- 59% cite cost as a barrier to web browsing;
- 53% cite cost as a reason for not adopting mobile email.
You can access the entire Vlingo study by clicking here.
Last week at the 2009 Ypulse Youth Marketing Mashup, there was a break out session focused on youth and mobile phones. Here are five key things to remember about youth and mobile technology:
- The median age for first mobile phone is around 11.5, next year projected to be 10;
- SMS is unsexy, but it's persuasive technology. 80% in US have sent/received a text message;
- According to according to Niels Aillaud from LG Mobile, carriers used to make money on voice plans however, in next few years data revenue will surpass voice and will go to 80-20 ratio. 2010 is the year of mobile;
- Mobile phone is increasingly becoming the access point to the web outside the USA;
- A Harris poll found that 59% of youth will to provide personal info to get targeted information in return, but be aware that teens have high expectations for privacy controls, user experience, want to be in full control of their info.
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