Gen Y is Cell Savvy; Baby Boomers Phone at Home

If Americans were forced to choose between their home phones and their mobile phones, their younger generations would go mobile and their older generations would stay home, according to a new national survey commissioned by LG Mobile Phones. Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 16-29 would opt for a mobile phone over a landline, compared to less than one-third of those 50 years or older (61% vs. 31%), according to the LG Mobile Phones "Personal Call" Survey.

One of the reasons for the mobile preference among teens and twenty-somethings is that 70% of them say they "stay in better touch with friends and family" since going mobile. But the LG survey also reveals that younger Americans are significantly more cell savvy than older generations -- they are more likely to use their mobile phone's features and to customize them to suit their individual preferences.

For example, nine out of ten 16-29 year-olds say they have used caller ID on their mobile phones to decide whether or not to answer a call (91%). Less than half as many of those age 50+ say they have used caller ID to screen their calls (40%).

Cell savvy 16-29 year-olds also are most likely to customize their mobile phones. Nearly half of them change their ring at least monthly (47% vs. only 8% of those 50+). More than one-third of them change their messages at least monthly (36% vs. 12% of those 50+), and one-third of them change their screen saver monthly or more often (33% vs. 6% of those 50+).

"Mobile phones are much more than a mere transmission tool," said Melissa Elkins, LG Mobile Phones Public Relations Manager. "For many people, especially the cell savvy, mobile phones are becoming an extension of the person themselves, an expression of their personalities in look and sound and use.

"There may be a generational divide at the moment in terms of mobile phone preference, but we expect this gap to close quickly within the next few years as people of all ages become increasingly familiar with the convenience, customization and simple fun factor of mobile phones," said Elkins.

The LG Phones "Personal Call" Survey was conducted by Kelton Research Nov. 14-18, 2003. A random sample of 802 Americans, age 16 and older, were surveyed by telephone. The confidence level is 95% with a plus or minus 3% differential."

Posted to the site on 8th December 2003