Survey Refutes Notion Only Younger Generations are Cell Phone Enthusiasts

Asurion, the global leader in technology protection services, announced today national results, which refute the commonly held perception that only adolescents and younger adults are cell phone-dependent. Questioning 1,000 randomly-selected consumers, 32 percent of those 60-64 years old said a cell phone was their primary means of communication and that losing it “would cause tremendous disruption to my life.””When we envision the ‘cell phone generation’ most of us think about the teenage through college-age groups that have grown-up with cell phones,” said Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion. “But our research disproves that assumption. As a nation, we’re all coming to see the cell phone as an indispensable part of our lives.”The Asurion survey also found that those between the ages of 50-54 viewed the cell phone as their main form of communication and that losing it would cause tremendous disruption.

Asurion’s findings that older adults are embracing the cell phone are in-line with those of the respected Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. That group’s February 2011 report, “Generations and their gadgets1,” shows that among those 57-65, a full 84 percent own a cell phone.

More than 95 million consumers insure their handsets through Asurion to protect their investments and to be certain they can quickly get reconnected in the event of loss, theft or out-of-warranty damage, including liquid damage. Asurion provides replacement cell phones – usually overnight – when a claim is made either on the phone or online. Asurion is the cell phone protection company chosen by every major wireless carrier.

Survey Methodology

Using Opinionology’s online Opinion Outpost market research panel, Asurion surveyed a total of 1,000 consumers. Respondents were asked a series of questions to determine their perceptions, opinions, attitudes and experiences using wireless phones. Asurion surveyed an equal mix of males and females between the ages of 16 and 65. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percent.

1. Source:Pew Internet & American Life Project; Kathryn Zickuhr; Generations and their gadgets; February 3, 2011; http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Generations-and-gadgets.aspx.