For many, a wireless phone is just one of several tools used to facilitate communication and the transfer and exchange of information. Since only one in 10 wireless users has a phone that has the capability to view e-mail, wireless phones serve primarily to transfer information via voice. However, the oft-used industry buzzword, convergence, readily applies to the present and future wireless phone landscape. Despite the advantages in certain areas of e-mail over voice communications, an overwhelming number of consumers would opt for mobile voice communication when faced with a choice. Only 17 percent of wireless phone owners would choose mobile e-mail over mobile voice communications.
Preferences hold roughly across gender, age and income.
Although wireless phone owners breech many age and income categories, owners are still relatively heavily invested in other information technology products. With finite resources to spend on a dizzying number of consumer electronics products, it appears consumers are most likely to invest in wireless phones with added features. Palm devices and other hand-held products appeal to a much smaller segment of the population compared to wireless phones. If the three in 10 wireless phone owners act on their preferences, the answer is a resounding maybe. All rights reserved.