U.S. cell phone users pick up on new features

U.S. cell phone users are showing more interest in new mobile perks such as wireless headsets and push-to-talk options--but data services are still slower to catch on.

Fifty-four percent of consumers surveyed want cordless headsets, while 50 percent want access to push-to-talk capabilities, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics, which polled 1,000 cell phone users. Simpler personal information management features were requested by a third of those surveyed.

Some U.S. carriers, looking to cash in on the rising interest in new features, have recently introduced push-to-talk services, which, similar to a walkie-talkie, need only the push of a single button to connect callers to another cell phone.

However, wireless data services, which depend on higher-speed networks, have been slow to pick up in the United States. Carriers have said that wireless data represents about 3 percent of overall revenue, compared with about 10 percent to 12 percent in Europe and Asia.

While 22 percent of cell phone users are interested in Bluetooth technology, only 13 percent of users are interested in Qwerty keypads, which are often used in handsets designed for wireless data applications. Still fewer are keen on video and music applications or games.

Strategy Analytics predicted that the growth of multimedia applications on handsets will be driven mainly by business users and tech-savvy consumers. Traditional users, which account for half of the market, would be a challenge for operators, the market researcher said.

"Users are interested in true wireless connectivity, and they want it effortlessly," Eddie Tapiero, author of the report, said in a statement. "Users would like the ability to synchronize calendars and scheduling applications and to connect to work resources without the need of base stations or wire lines."

Survey, Schmurvey

This survey needs to be done from a business perspective and a conumser perspective. For business people, wireless data is much more important than to any consumer. I just switched to a Blackberry just so I could have better access to my data. It is slow to surf the internet, but at least I can do it.

[Tania Grant]

Survey Shmurvey 2

I agree with Ted Nathan. I think that right now the technology to serve both the business user and the consumer is still not there despite some useless marketing to the contrary. I use my Palm Tungsten for business and am thinking of getting a Blackberry. I do not want to play games, download songs or otherwise be cool. I also believe that a business user would pay for better quality and more useful features. The regular consumer wants smaller, cheaper, and cooler software. I think the manufacturers should provide two separate product lines that serve both segments well rather than try to cram everything into one device and not please both.
Tania Grant.

Mobile data will climb with good content

Most mobile telephone browsers provide terrible renditions of web pages due to various technical reasons. There is little compeling content for mobile devices that is designed for and targeted to mobile. Once the industry is aware and starts positioning quality content to mobile platforms then you will get more demand for the services.

[Lmartin345]

The Population is aging and what we want in a cell phone is: good receiption ,voice dial, a decent camera, and dial buttons large enough to fit your finger tip with large print and numbers on the screen. The EnV2 fits some of these requirements, but I have AT&T and do not want to Verizon.

[Lmartin345]

The Population is aging and what we want in a cell phone is: good receiption ,voice dial, a decent camera, and dial buttons large enough to fit your finger tip with large print and numbers on the screen. The EnV2 fits some of these requirements, but I have AT&T and do not want to Verizon.