Cell Phones with Internet Access

Only 26.1% of respondents have never owned a cell phone with Internet access, higher than in the U.S. population, but consistent with that found in other online panels, according to a Researchscape survey of 1,000 consumers.

Purchase Interest

75.7% of respondents were “very interested” or “extremely interested” in purchasing a smart phone. People interested in smart phones are most likely to also be interested in smart TVs (Internet-capable televisions, 0.371 correlation), video game consoles (0.281 correlation) and tablet computers (0.254 correlation). Obviously, and unsurprisingly, they are least interested in feature phones (cell phones without Internet access, -0.474 correlation).

Smart phones are the category that benefits the most from device substitution: 17.7% of respondents would replace a broken device from a different category with a smart phone. Here’s the percent of respondents that would replace each of the following devices with a smart phone:

•  5.3% – Cell phone (without Internet access)
•  3.4% – Digital camera (with video)
•  3.4% – Portable media player (MP3 player)
•  2.6% – GPS device (personal navigation device)
•  1.1% – Digital camera (without video)

26.7% of respondents without a smart phone said it was the device they didn’t own that they were most interested in purchasing. Of all respondents, 8.5% identified smart phones as the device they were most interested in purchasing, the 4th highest interest level. The most common reason by far is for Internet access “on the go”, overshadowing all other functionality (email, GPS, apps, gaming, camera).

• Want Internet access on the go (mentioned by 42 respondents):
  • “Internet on the go is extremely useful.”
  • “It would be helpful to be able to access the Internet while shopping for various things while grocery shopping and comparing prices.”
  • “I want to be able to access the Internet all the time.”
  • “The convenience of being able to access the Internet without a Wi-Fi connection.”
• Current phone is outdated (mentioned by 15 respondents):
  • “My current phone is very dated, and I am very much looking forward to having the convenience of a smart phone. I am looking forward to having fun with such a product.”
  • “I feel like I’m in the Stone Age with my extremely outdated phone.”
  • “My old phone is very old and almost obsolete.”
• Would be helpful/useful (mentioned by 8 respondents):
  • “This is my needful and useful device.”
  • “I would like to have the usefulness and functionality one gives.”
• Check email (mentioned by 6 respondents):
  • “So that I can check my email or something on the Internet without having to turn on my computer.”
  • “I would like to check my email on my phone.”
  • “Need it for keeping up with work email.”
• Everyone else has a smart phone (mentioned by 5 respondents):
  • “I would like to purchase a smart phone because everyone has them.”
  • “All my friends have one.”
  • “Because it’s 2012 and I still don’t have a smartphone. I feel like a caveman.”
• GPS (mentioned by 5 respondents):
  • “I think it would be nice to have just in case you get lost without your GPS.”
  • “I have a basic phone, but I would like a smartphone with better camera quality and be able to look up directions or have a GPS.”
• Need a cell phone (mentioned by 4 respondents):
  • “Because I don’t have a cell phone, period.”
  • “I currently don’t own a cell phone and would like to be able to have one.”
• To better stay in touch (mentioned by 4 respondents):
  • “I feel like it would help me multi-task and stay connected better.”
  • “To keep in touch easier.”
  • “I want to communicate with my friends more.”
• Lots of valuable features (mentioned by 3 respondents):
  • “Smart phones have tons of functions that I could see myself using.”
  • “They have a great deal of features that can be used on the go.”
  • “I think it would be the most functional purchase.”
• Need for work (mentioned by 3 respondents):
  • “We need it for our business.”
  • “To be able to work away from home.”
• Would have one already except for the cost of the data plan (mentioned by 3 respondents):
  • “If it weren’t for the additional charges for data plans, I’d have this.”
  • “I’d like a smartphone, but I don’t like the price of the data package. If the price of data comes down I’ll buy one.”
• For the apps (mentioned by 2 respondents):
  • “I’m interested in buying this device because a smartphone is like a small computer I can carry around with me.”
  • “Many apps, with phone function.”
• Gaming (mentioned by 2 respondents):
  • “It gives you the ability to check your email, get directions, play games, talk with friends, and many other things all in one device.”
  • “It’s about time I get a smartphone so I can have access to the Internet everywhere for directions, games, business purposes and so on.”
• Modern necessity (mentioned by 2 respondents):
  • “Smartphones seem to be a necessity in modern day society.”
  • “I want to join the year 2012 and get a smart phone.”
• Want a built-in digital camera (mentioned by 2 respondents):
  • “I have a basic phone, but I would like a smartphone with better camera quality and be able to look up directions or have a GPS.”
  • “I’d like to be able to use the phone for things other than just phone calls—it would be cool to use it to surf the web and take video.”

Current Ownership

68.4% of respondents currently own a smart phone, the 4th highest ownership rate of the 16 devices studied.

4.9% no longer use the device, giving it the second lowest rate of lapsed usage (compared to an average of 16.3%). Smart phones had the highest rate of frequent use: 84.7% of owners reported using their smart phone frequently.

In a separate survey of 400 consumers, we asked respondents a hypothetical question: which devices would they purchase if they had lost all of their devices in a robbery and new purchases were covered by insurance? 87.7% of current owners were “very interested” or “extremely interested” in repurchasing a smart phone, the highest interest level in repurchasing.

Smart phones are the third-most valued of devices: only 4.6% of owners said it was the device that they were least interested in replacing if it broke.

Past Ownership

5.5% of respondents have owned a smart phone in the past but no longer do so, the 4th lowest rate of past ownership. This represents 7.4% of the group of current and former owners. People who give up smart phones typically replace them with feature phones; they make the switch because of the monthly data charges or because they’ve decided that they have other ways of accessing the Internet.

See Also