New Mobile Lifestyle Survey Finds 'Must Have' Features Include Mobile Mapping, Messaging, Email, Search and More

AP AOL-Pew Research Center Survey Reveals More Than Half of All Adults Keep Their Mobile Phone On 24/7; Nearly Half of Those Aged 18-29 Are Likely to Drop Their Landline   

According to a new AP-AOL-Pew Research Center Mobile Lifestyle Survey, U.S. cell phone users are growing increasingly addicted to using their cell phones. The survey, which examined cell phone trends and usage habits among 1,286 mobile users nationwide, revealed that 52 percent of adults surveyed keep their cell phone turned on all the time while 40 percent of those aged 18-29 are likely to drop their landline once and for all.

American cell phone users are also becoming increasingly savvy and confident in the services and features they use on their phones. The 'must have' feature for 2006 is mobile mapping and directions, with nearly half (47 percent) of adults saying they would like to have this function at their fingertips. Activities that Americans say they either do now or would like to do on their next cell phone include:

-- Use mobile maps: 51 percent

-- Send text messages: 48 percent

-- Take pictures: 47 percent

-- Play games: 34 percent

-- Send mobile email: 32 percent

-- Use mobile search: 31 percent

-- Browse the Internet: 30 percent

-- Play music: 25 percent

-- Record video: 23 percent

-- Have desktop instant messages (IMs) sent to their phone: 21 percent

-- Send mobile instant messages: 18 percent

-- Watch video or TV shows: 16 percent

"As overall mobile usage grows, people are getting more and more comfortable with the additional features and Web services their phones have to offer," said Bill Schwebel, senior vice president, AOL's wireless division. "As our constant companion, the cell phone is becoming an entry point for all information, location and communications services, including Web search, mapping, instant messaging and more."

Top-line survey findings also include:

Text Me: Thirty-five percent of those surveyed say they send SMS text messages to friends, family and business colleagues, including 65 percent of those ages 18-29 and 37 percent of those ages 30-49. At the same time, 18 percent say they have used or would like to use a mobile instant messaging service on their cell phone.

Forward Me: Twenty-one percent of mobile users say they would like to have all instant messages (IMs) forwarded from their PC desktop to their cell phones. Meanwhile, 38 percent say they would like to have desktop IMs from select contacts that they choose automatically forwarded to their mobile device, including 50 percent of those ages 18-29.

Email Me: Eight percent of cell phone users currently access their email from their cell phones. At the same time, 24 percent of those who do not check their email from their phones say they would like to be able to do so.

Find Me: When asked about using their cell phone to search for movie listings, weather, stock quotes and more, seven percent say they do this already. One-quarter (24 percent) say they would like to be able to do this on their phone. Meanwhile, 30 percent of those surveyed say they want to browse the Web from their cell phone.

Smile for Me: Twenty-eight percent of mobile users say they use their cell phones to take photos, while another 19 percent say they would like to have a camera on their phone. Meanwhile, six percent have recorded video clips with their cell phone, and another 17 percent would like this feature on their next phone.

According to Jupiter Research(1), there are nearly 195 million mobile phone users today. In addition to looking at the features most popular with mobile users, the AP-AOL-Pew Center survey provides a unique look into the behaviors and usage trends of today's mobile society.

Fully 74 percent of survey respondents say their cell phone has helped them in an emergency while 41 percent say they regularly place calls when traveling or waiting for someone.

"As the mobile phone becomes an ever-more essential communications tool, we are beginning to get measures on some important societal impacts," said Lee Rainie, director, Pew Internet & American Life Project. "The cell is playing a key role in our daily lives, whether it's used for emergencies or as the primary technology for our most basic interactions with others."

No Really, I am at Work: Nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of survey respondents say they have not always been truthful about where they are when on their cell phone. In fact, young people (ages 18-29) are the most likely group to stretch the truth on their whereabouts (39 percent).

Dirty Looks & Evil Glances: Fully half (50 percent) of cell phone users say they frequently encounter people talking very loudly in public on their phone, and 32 percent say they occasionally experience mobile users with poor etiquette. Nearly one in ten (eight percent) have themselves received dirty looks for their own poor cell phone manners.

Should I Answer That?: One in four (24 percent) cell phone users feel they need to answer their cell phone when it rings, even if the call interrupts a meeting or a family meal. Men are more likely than women (27 percent vs. 22 percent) to take a call.

Bye-Bye, Landline: Nearly one in ten (eight percent) of those surveyed say they are very likely to ditch their landline in favor of a cell phone-only existence. Meanwhile, 15 percent say they aren't quite ready to cut the cord, though they say they are somewhat likely to let go of their landline phone. Nearly half (40 percent) of those ages 18-29 say they are likely to drop their landline once and for all.

To see more cell phone trend findings from the AP-AOL-Pew Research Center Poll, visit http://www.aolmobile.com/survey.

**Note to Broadcast Media: B-Roll is available and can be previewed by logging onto http://www.thenewsmarket.com/AOL.

(1) Jupiter Research: Next-Generation Handsets, March 2006

Survey Methodology

Interviewing for the AP-AOL-Pew Research Center Mobile Lifestyle Survey was conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc. The survey was conducted by telephone March 8-28, 2006 among a sample of 1,503 adults age 18 and older, including 1,286 cell phone users. Of the full sample, 752 adults were reached on a landline and 751 were reached on a cell phone. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Margin of error for subgroups may be higher.

About the Associated Press

The Associated Press is the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization, providing content to more than 15,000 news outlets with a daily reach of 1 billion people around the world. Its multimedia services are distributed by satellite and the Internet to more than 120 nations. For more information, visit www.ap.org.

About AOL LLC

AOL LLC and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Web brands include the AOL.com(R) website, AIM(R), MapQuest(R) and Netscape(R). AOL offers a range of digital services in the areas of education, safety and security, communications and music. The company also has operations in Europe and Canada. AOL, which is based in Dulles, Virginia, is a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.

About the Pew Research Center

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does not take positions on policy issues. The Pew Internet & American Life Project is one of the research organizations at the Center. It examines the social impact of the internet and other communications technologies.

Contacts
Associated Press
Jack Stokes, 212-621-1730

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AOL
Erin Gifford, 703-265-7285

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Pew Research Center
Lee Rainie, 202-419-4300