August 29, 2008
For Many Students, the Simplest Cell Phones Suffice
There is something to be said for simplicity in an ever-more-wired age. But it’s typically the old folks you hear saying something like: “I just want a cell phone that makes calls. I don’t need one that plays music, sends e-mail, takes pictures, surfs the Web, contains a map of Tokyo, unlocks car doors, plays a crafty game of poker, works like a credit card, and combs my hair.” (Somewhere in this wide world, technicians are no doubt working on the mobile beautician.)
Youngsters have been branded as gizmophiles, attached to their phones and their many uses. But a new survey from the University of New Hampshire suggests that students use their phones in limited ways — mainly for talking, texting, keeping track of time, and a handful of other basic functions.
Students in a market-research class taught by Chuck Martin, an adjunct professor in the university’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics, asked 707 students from the college of engineering (the geeks, that is) which functions they use on their cell phones. Talking, texting, and the alarm clock were used by 80 to 90 percent of those who responded. The calculator, camera, and “backlight as flashlight” were used by around 50 percent. Far less important were the Internet browser, the music player, the e-mail reader, and GPS, at around 3 percent.
When asked what features they wanted in a cell phone, students ranked long battery life and water resistance at the top, then GPS features right after that. Maybe it’s just cool to have a cell phone that can do GPS, even though you never use it.
When asked what might prevent a student from buying a phone with an array of cool features, most students cited price, then durability and the quality of the service provider. So practical, these students. —Scott Carlson
Posted on Friday August 29, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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“Maybe it’s just cool to have a cell phone that can do GPS, even though you never use it.”
Or maybe they never use it because they can’t afford a phone that has it as a feature. There’s a strong correlation between use of cell phone features and access to them – the majority of the features on the list that students don’t use (internet, email, GPS etc.) are the same ones that require an expensive data plan to go along with an expensive phone.
— Cameron Blevins Aug 29, 12:01 PM #
Same as having buying a home with a jetted tub — it’s nice to have, but we hardly use it. When we were looking at houses a couple months ago, the realtor kept bragging about the damn jetted tub. I finally asked her if she had one. She said yes. How often she or anyone in her family used it? Almost never, she admitted. Ugh!
— Nokeke Aug 29, 12:58 PM #
Note that this is survey research, so all you’re really getting is perhaps how people think they use their phones. Not a great measure of actual usage, let alone meaning.
— Mark Aug 29, 01:53 PM #
With all due respect, I think this is a ridiculous conclusion. This study did not take into account the students’ experience with various types of cell phones. More advanced cell phones, such as the iPhone, can offer students numerous benefits in regards to productivity, organization, and convenience. However, I imagine very few students in this survey had any knowledge of what they are missing out on.
I suggest conducting a follow-up survey where you give the same students an iPhone for one month and then take it away. I am willing to wager an annual subscription to my company’s services (OrgSync.com) that you will find a majority of those students very hesitant to return to using their antiquated simple cell phones.
— Eric Fortenberry Aug 29, 06:07 PM #
Of course the students aren’t going to use their phones to surf the net if their phones are INCAPABLE of doing so in the first place! There is only one among thousands of models that make that function possible and most people, don’t have it! (iPhone)
— Sean Aug 30, 02:26 AM #
orgsync sucks as a service. every time i tried it, it screwed up my calendar and contacts
— robb Aug 31, 01:58 PM #
The real issue is cost. Most parents are paying for their sons/daughters cell phones. Basic phone and text messaging is costly enough each month. Adding data plans adds cost. Not everyone can see the cost-benefit.
— Dwight Sep 2, 07:44 AM #
Orgsync does suck. Badly. This service is a waste of money. Eric Frankenberry should stop shilling on this blog.
— Eric V. Sep 2, 09:00 AM #
Nothing wrong with this survey. I have found that students here report the same use patterns. Talk and text, clock and flashlight—sounds about right.
— Ursten Von Gimmel Sep 2, 09:12 AM #
Any research worth it’s weight has to be landed in some way in the real world. The class survey at UNH was at least much closer to reality than what Eric F. proposes. “Give the same students an IPhone” is code for destroying anything that resembles decent research. If the IPhone and a decent service are free, of course anyone would jump at that. Most of us make decisions on value of the dollar spent and what we actually will use, as opposed to bragging about but never use. You can’t remove the cost factor in that relationship. The add ons are nice, but if they aren’t used all that much then why buy them?
— Brian D. Sep 2, 09:57 AM #
With all due respect to #4, I think it’s shameful to comment with a well-placed “plug” for your company.
— Jr. Sep 2, 10:34 AM #
Sufficient to each person is their use. I use the Internet browser all the time, and for one of my daughters the music player is a primary need. So much for this article.
— Al Sep 2, 12:04 PM #
I would like to apologize for the plug above, I was intending to provide background on my experience working with the student population. Lesson learned. I am merely passionate about technology and want to support the most innovative solutions. The costs of an iPhone and its services were definitely negated and clearly make it less feasible for students to afford the iPhone or any PDA for that matter.
— Eric Fortenberry Sep 3, 02:18 AM #
I agree with Cameron (#1). I’m pretty sure that if the cost of data plans went down that more students would be using all the bells and whistles.
I think this may be a stronger indication of how lame mobile interfaces have been so far. The iPhone has changed this forever, so I’m excited to see what’s to come in the next 5 years…
— Alan Bradford Sep 3, 06:18 PM #
I completely disagree.
1. The Blackberry, (I own the Curve), also has a myriad of functions besides talk, text, and flashlight.
2. I use my GPS navigator everytime I drive somewhere new.
3. I have a Calender that I can sync to my calender online.
4. I have access to my email instantly, and being in an executive position it’s important for me to be able to respond in a timely matter.
3. I take pictures daily on my camera phone to share with family and friends.
The point is the list goes on and on. I think the point was made that if you asked students who don’t have access to these features if the use them, duh the answer is going to be no.
If I ask everyone I know who has a Blackberry (which is A LOT of people) then you would have different results. End of story, this survey is trash.
— Marjorie Sep 11, 12:40 PM #
Any research worth it’s weight has to be landed in some way in the real world. The class survey at UNH was at least much closer to reality than what Eric F. proposes. “Give the same students an IPhone” is code for destroying anything that resembles decent research. If the IPhone and a decent service are free, of course anyone would jump at that. Most of us make decisions on value of the dollar spent and what we actually will use, as opposed to bragging about but never use. You can’t remove the cost factor in that relationship. The add ons are nice, but if they aren’t used all that much then why buy them?
— Brain Sep 13, 04:23 AM #