Bloom off the rose: wireless minute usage falls

by Brian White posted May 3rd 2007 at 9:03PM

Yeah, we knew the day would come: we just got tired of using our trusty StarTacs and they've been sent to the desk drawer to be retired. Well, not really, but call amounts on mobiles have declined for the first time ever. This comes from new research from J.D. Power and Associates (which only has a decade of records to look at). The average number of weekly calls made by prepaid customers stood at 14 in 2006 and went down to 10 in 2007 (a decline of almost 29%). For ~~indentured servant~~ contract wireless subscribers, the number has dipped from 35 to 27. When asked for more information, a J.D. Power rep said that "mobile phones have lost their position as a status symbol. At one time, people seemed to feel the need to justify the money spent on a mobile phone by using it all the time. But that has gone." So, are you seeing a reduction in annoying calls in theaters and restaurants? Perhaps they are being replaced by SMS crowd. In addition, are we using those streaming TV apps and MP3 players more on our handsets rather than, umm, making and receiving calls? Perhaps, perhaps not.

[Via textually.org]

Tags: cellular calls, cellular market growth, CellularCalls, CellularMarketGrowth, Culture, phone calling, PhoneCalling, wireless calling, wireless market growth, Wireless minutes, wireless phone calling, WirelessCalling, WirelessMarketGrowth, WirelessMinutes, WirelessPhoneCalling

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

chuck @ May 3rd 2007 11:56PM

I'm sure this directly relates to increased SMS usage. I often plan things with my friends completely by sms instead of making several calls. It's actually cheaper for me; I have an unlimited messaging plan.

Neutral

Dylan @ May 4th 2007 12:30AM

I have unlimited txt'ing as well but i'm not a 14 year old girl so i tend use my cell for talking.

Neutral

Liqwid @ May 4th 2007 11:04AM

It's because my dad got me a cell phone when I said I would rarely use one. I only use about 30-45 minutes a month, and I send about one or two text messages a week.

I had to get him to take down our family share plan to save him some money.

lol, StarTac!

Neutral

Eric @ May 4th 2007 5:37PM

I never understood what people had to talk about so frequently in the first place! I mean what are we, Borg? Always gotta be connected? Give me serenity and the occasional necessary call.

Hmm... I'm on a blog about mobile phones. Will have to think about this.

Neutral

shuref00t @ May 4th 2007 5:58PM

"I never understood what people had to talk about so frequently in the first place! I mean what are we, Borg? Always gotta be connected? Give me serenity and the occasional necessary call."

My sentiments, exactly. As a daily bus commuter, I often wonder to myself, who the hell are these people conversing with at 7:30 AM?! And pray tell, about God know's what?! For certain, it's not work-related.

As for myself, I do 90% of my calls during nights & weekends, in the privacy and comfort of my home.

I also have an unlimited messaging plan, and use around 100 per month.

Neutral

bgdc @ May 5th 2007 3:35AM

Hmmm. I use about 400 minutes a week on my cell. I touch my home phone maybe once a week for a quick local call.

Neutral

bgdc @ May 5th 2007 3:37AM

No texting or VERY rarely text. I'm not a teenager. I'm not going to spend 1 minute typing a message when I can call and get the answer instantly.

In-calling = free. Texting = expense and time. Why bother?

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