Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cellphone-only households on the rise, landlines crying a river]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/cellphone-only-households-on-the-rise-landlines-crying-a-river/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/cellphone-only-households-on-the-rise-landlines-crying-a-river/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/cellphone-only-households-on-the-rise-landlines-crying-a-river/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hold everything -- did you have any idea surging cellphone use was putting a damper on landline utilization? Oh, right, common knowledge. Anywho, a recent study conducted here in America found that three in ten households actually relied solely or primarily on their mobile to communicate. In the latter half of 2007, it was discovered that 16-percent of domiciles didn't even have a landline, while 13-percent had one but took all (or nearly all) of their calls via cell. Just to put things in perspective, only 5-percent of US homes were cellphone-only in 2004, while 1.082-percent had not yet surrendered their can-and-string. If you're one of those number lovers, hold your head up high and hit the read link for lots more data about this totally engrossing topic.

[Image courtesy of Preston LNO]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecellphone onlyCellphoneOnlydatahouseholdhouseholdslandlineresearchstudysurveyThu, 15 May 2008 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's 3G comes out on top in speed tests, will only get faster in 2009]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/atandts-3g-comes-out-on-top-in-speed-tests-will-only-get-faster/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/atandts-3g-comes-out-on-top-in-speed-tests-will-only-get-faster/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/atandts-3g-comes-out-on-top-in-speed-tests-will-only-get-faster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


The folks over at Computerworld just ran the current 3G providers in America through their paces, only to discover that AT&T came out on top in almost every category. Well, it appears the monolithic telco plans to keep its edge (er...) on the competition -- by upping its HSPA service to a whopping 20Mbps come 2009. Our main man Ralph de la Vega said that the process wouldn't require a major overhaul to the provider's infrastructure, and that they're already working on punching up the current 3.6Mbps speeds to 7.2Mbps "in the labs." Apparently, this won't stall plans for forthcoming 4G / 700MHz / LTE service from the company -- it'll just be icing on the cake.

Read - Which 3G network is the best?
Read - AT&T plans 20-megabit 3G by 2009
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g4g700mhzatthspalteralph de la vegaRalphDeLaVegaspeed testsSpeedTestsThu, 15 May 2008 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobilkom I-HSPA tests provide 10.1Mbps speeds, another acronym to remember]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/mobilkom-i-hspa-tests-provide-10-1mbps-speeds-another-acronym-t/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/mobilkom-i-hspa-tests-provide-10-1mbps-speeds-another-acronym-t/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/mobilkom-i-hspa-tests-provide-10-1mbps-speeds-another-acronym-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Nokia Siemens Networks and Mobilkom Austria are likely celebrating some I-HSPA (Internet High Speed Packet Access) test results that rang in at a respectable 10.1Mbps during a data call. I-HSPA is essentially Nokia Siemens Networks' version of HSPA+, with both touted as bringing a flat architecture to the HSPA network by connecting the base station directly to the internet. Bottom line is when we see this on our doorstep, we're just one step closer to LTE, and its speed in comparison will rekindle warm thoughts of the first time we used HSDPA after struggling with GPRS.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HSPAI-HSPAMobilkomNokia Siemens NetworksNokiaSiemensNetworksThu, 08 May 2008 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey finds 37% of Gen Y-ers text while driving]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/survey-finds-37-of-gen-y-ers-text-while-driving/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/survey-finds-37-of-gen-y-ers-text-while-driving/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/survey-finds-37-of-gen-y-ers-text-while-driving/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Oh sure, Americans are adamantly against texting while driving (in theory), but that's not stopping those mischievous Gen Y-ers from getting their SMS on while behind the wheel. According to a new survey of 1,200 people conducted by Nationwide Mutual Insurance (we know, we know), a third of the Gen Y-ers admitted to "always multitasking while driving," and while the "always" bit does indeed frighten us a tad, the real juice was in the next statistic: 37-percent said they sent text messages while driving. Before you start belaboring the imprudent youth, think long and hard about your own in-car cellphone usage -- remember that time you just had to reply "y w pep plz" in order to salvage your friend's pizza order? Tsk tsk.

[Via About]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dangerousdrivingnascarresearchsmsstudysturveytexttext messagestext messagingtextingtexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingTextMessagesTextMessagingFri, 02 May 2008 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone recommends "more discreet" communication methods in public]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/vodafone-recommends-more-discreet-communication-methods-in-pub/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/vodafone-recommends-more-discreet-communication-methods-in-pub/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/vodafone-recommends-more-discreet-communication-methods-in-pub/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Although it should be painfully obvious, we can't deny that chatting about sensitive information in public takes place practically everywhere. To that end, a new study commissioned by Vodafone UK found that over 70-percent of all workers "talk business on their mobile phones in public, with one-in-five talking about business-critical subjects such as sales leads." Worse still, 15-percent admitted to "openly discussing confidential new products or services whilst traveling," while 26-percent admitted that they have actually followed up on a lead in which they received via listening in to another's public call. Not surprisingly, the company recommends that individuals utilize more discreet methods of communicating in public, suggesting texting and emailing in particular. Of course, it's a good bit more difficult to tell a story through those two methods, but it's a lot better than having your most promising client snatched out from under you, yeah?

[Via textually, image courtesy of Miloh]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessconversationdataprivateresearchsecretstudyvodafoneWed, 30 Apr 2008 02:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Analysts project Linux in 20% of mid- to high-end handsets by 2013]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/26/analysts-project-linux-in-20-of-mid-to-high-end-handsets-by-20/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/26/analysts-project-linux-in-20-of-mid-to-high-end-handsets-by-20/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/26/analysts-project-linux-in-20-of-mid-to-high-end-handsets-by-20/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There's little doubt that Linux has quite a bit going for it in the mobile realm, but a recent report put out by ABI Research asserts that just about one in every five mid- to high-end handsets sold in 2013 will boast a Linux-based OS. Citing the mounting momentum behind LiMo Foundation as well as the alleviation of "issues with framework fragmentation and silicon requirements," the research firm is projecting Linux to be an integral part of some 20-percent of higher-end mobiles in just 5 years. ABI Research's VP even noted that "Linux OS solutions will be far more cost-effective than incumbent solutions, even when silicon requirements are taken into account, given that a fuller application layer will be included in the standard package and that the burden of customization falls mostly on the independent software vendor." Hey, you won't find us kvetching about the proliferation of open-source.

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abi researchAbiResearchdatalimolimo foundationLimoFoundationlinuxopen-sourceresearchstudySat, 26 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Would you elect the president via text message? 61 percent say 'Y']]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/would-you-elect-the-president-via-text-message-61-percent-say-y/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/would-you-elect-the-president-via-text-message-61-percent-say-y/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/would-you-elect-the-president-via-text-message-61-percent-say-y/#commentsFiled under:


According to a recent, sensational survey from Samsung Mobile, 61 percent of lazy, distracted, and impossibly ignorant cellphone users over the age 18 say they would be comfortable casting their vote for President of the United States via a text message. Meanwhile, the totally serious and meaningful survey found that eight in ten (or 80 percent) of teens under the legal voting age would use their mobile devices to cast a ballot in the election. Additionally, Samsung Mobile discovered that 90 percent of cellphone users would like an ice cream cone, while another 87 percent would like an ice cream cone only after eating a quarter-pounder with cheese. Soon Samsung Mobile hopes to determine what percentage, if any, of the people surveyed know who is running for the office of president.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>presidentpresidential electionPresidentialElectionsamsung mobileSamsungMobilesmstexttext messagestextingTextMessagesvotevotingMon, 21 Apr 2008 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel snags lots of gold in recent call quality survey]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/alltel-snags-lots-of-gold-in-recent-call-quality-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/alltel-snags-lots-of-gold-in-recent-call-quality-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/alltel-snags-lots-of-gold-in-recent-call-quality-survey/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While Verizon and T-Mobile shared honors in a customer service survey just two months back, it was regional carrier Alltel snagging most of the gold in a recent J.D. Power and Associates survey of wireless call quality. Reportedly, said carrier was able to take the "sole or partial top spot in three of the report's six regions," while Verizon stood on top in two regions, US Cellular in one and T-Mobile (along with Alltel) in another. The data was gathered from 24,570 respondents that were questioned about dropped calls, static / interference, failed connection on the first try, voice distortion, echoes, no immediate voicemail notification, and no immediate text message notification. Interestingly, the study also found that "customers using 3G handsets experienced fewer call quality issues," and while call quality problems reported by folks using CDMA happened around 14 times out of every 100 calls, nearly a quarter of calls from those on the iDEN network were primarily about problems with call quality. Check out the full spill in the read below, we won't tell anyone you're a number lover.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelCall QualityCallQualitycustomer serviceCustomerServicequalitysatisfactionstudysurveyTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Super 3G hits 250Mbps downlink in NTT DoCoMo field test]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/26/super-3g-hits-250mbps-downlink-in-ntt-docomo-field-test/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/26/super-3g-hits-250mbps-downlink-in-ntt-docomo-field-test/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/26/super-3g-hits-250mbps-downlink-in-ntt-docomo-field-test/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Just think -- this time next year, we'll all look back at this milestone and wonder how on Earth we thought it was impressive. For now, however, we wouldn't blame you for high-fiving everyone around, as NTT DoCoMo has stretched the boundaries again with a recent Super 3G field test. Reportedly, the outfit was able to record "a downlink transmission rate of 250Mbps over a high-speed wireless network in an outdoor test of an experimental Super 3G system," and while it's not quite the 300Mbps we'd heard about before, you won't find us kvetching. If all goes to plan, the firm is hoping to "complete development of the technologies required for the eventual launch of a Super 3G network" by 2009, but who knows how long we Americans will have to wait to indulge after that.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3ghsdpahsupajapanmilestonemimoNTT DoCoMoNttDocomospeedSuper 3GSuper3gtesttransmissiontrialWed, 26 Mar 2008 08:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey says suits issued BlackBerry over Palm by a wide margin]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/survey-says-suits-issued-blackberry-over-palm-by-a-wide-margin/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/survey-says-suits-issued-blackberry-over-palm-by-a-wide-margin/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/survey-says-suits-issued-blackberry-over-palm-by-a-wide-margin/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Well golly, no wonder Palm's gone on the attack against RIM. Corporate users have historically been the bread and butter of Palm's Treo line of smartphones, and with BlackBerrys of all shapes and sizes continuing to eat every other manufacturers' lunch in that profitable arena, it only makes sense that the company would be feeling more heat than ever. We're forced to take these stats with a grain of salt seeing how ChangeWave doesn't explain its surveying methods in its overview, but we've no reason to doubt the findings that 73 percent of corporate users are doled out a BlackBerry -- the same as was reported in November of last year -- while only 18 percent get a Treo, down from 28 percent a year ago. Now granted, these numbers represent the percentage of devices actually issued, which we suppose could be quite a bit different than what employees would prefer to be issued, but we doubt the difference is enough to equalize these two. What now, Palm?

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberrypalmrimsurveytreoTue, 04 Mar 2008 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean CEOs name iPhone most "inspirational" invention of 2007]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/korean-ceos-name-iphone-most-inspirational-invention-of-2007/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/korean-ceos-name-iphone-most-inspirational-invention-of-2007/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/korean-ceos-name-iphone-most-inspirational-invention-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Using Time Magazine's Inventions of 2007 list as its basis, a poll of 590 CEOs in South Korea has named the iPhone the most inspirational invention of last year -- a finding echoed by Time's own Invention Of the Year award. The best part? The poll was conducted by the Samsung Economic Research Institute, which is affiliated with -- you guessed it -- Samsung. Go figure.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleceoiphonekoreastudyTue, 26 Feb 2008 00:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm ranks last in satisfaction survey, no one surprised]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/palm-ranks-last-in-satisfaction-survey-no-one-surprised/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/palm-ranks-last-in-satisfaction-survey-no-one-surprised/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/palm-ranks-last-in-satisfaction-survey-no-one-surprised/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We know it's probably going to be pretty hard to believe this, but according to a recent survey of mobile phone users, Palm ranks absolutely last in customer satisfaction. If you believe what the folks at ChangeWave Research have to say (and the 4,182 people they questioned), only 30-percent of Palm users reported being "very satisfied" with their device, while companies like Apple and RIM garnered 72-percent and 55-percent, respectively. Of course, considering current trends with the company, and the fact that it's just started paying out to users for repeated repairs on devices, this doesn't come as much shock. The report demonstrates that users are moving to smartphones at an alarming rate -- but with rankings like this, they're probably avoiding Palm devices. Guys, it might take a little more than Bono to fix this mess.

Update: Our friends at Palm contacted us with some supplemental information which they wanted to get across concerning this research and related studies. According to them, two separate, third-party firms (Satmetrix and Russell Research) conducted studies which came to the opposite conclusion of ChangeWave's work. In their words: "The Satmetrix survey found that 65-percent of respondents rated their overall satisfaction with Palm as an 8-10 out of 10. Also, the Russell Research study found that 56-percent of respondents were either "very satisfied" or "extremely satisfied" with their Palm smartphone device."

[Via Palm Infocenter]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changewave researchChangewaveResearchcustomer satisfactionCustomerSatisfactionlastlowestpalmsurveyWed, 13 Feb 2008 09:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia trial turns N95s into traffic sensing tools]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/09/nokia-trial-turns-n95s-into-traffic-sensing-tools/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/09/nokia-trial-turns-n95s-into-traffic-sensing-tools/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/09/nokia-trial-turns-n95s-into-traffic-sensing-tools/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sure, we've seen cellphones intermingle with traffic data before, but Nokia's looking to up the ante in a big way by utilizing a large network of GPS-enabled handsets to actually predict traffic patterns and help you avoid congestion before you even leave for that afternoon appointment. In a recent trial involving 100 volunteer drivers (and an equal amount of N95s), the handset maker teamed up with UC Berkeley to test the effectiveness of using a device most people already own (read: cellphones) to beam out traffic data rather than installing permanent sensors in roadways. Eventually, Nokia hopes to expand the experiment to over 1,000 folks, and just in case you privacy junkies can already feel your heart racing, you can rest assured that all "personal identifying information" was stripped before being sent back for analysis.

Read - Nokia turns people into traffic sensors
Read - Video: Nokia test drives traffic monitoring system
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>n95nokiasensorsensorstraffictraffic sensorTrafficSensortrailSat, 09 Feb 2008 02:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon, T-Mobile share top honors in customer service survey]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/03/verizon-t-mobile-share-top-honors-in-customer-service-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/03/verizon-t-mobile-share-top-honors-in-customer-service-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/03/verizon-t-mobile-share-top-honors-in-customer-service-survey/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Another day, another award; yep, it's business as usual for the folks over at T-Mobile and Verizon. Vocal Laboratories' most recent quarterly "SectorPulse" survey has found that the US' second and fourth largest carriers take top honors for quality of customer service, receiving "A" grades in both caller satisfaction and call completion. What's "call completion," you ask? Nope, it's not a measure of a customer service agent's ability to quickly and efficiently hang up on you, it indicates the frequency with which callers' issues are resolved on the first call. For some of us, it really doesn't matter how many awards T-Mobile wins in this department, it's 3G or bust. Maybe that really is just us, though.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customer serviceCustomerServicesatisfactionstudyt-mobileverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessverzionvzwSun, 03 Feb 2008 14:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Smartphones most returned holiday gift, iPhones / BlackBerrys notwithstanding]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/29/smartphones-most-returned-holiday-gift-iphones-blackberrys-no/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/29/smartphones-most-returned-holiday-gift-iphones-blackberrys-no/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/29/smartphones-most-returned-holiday-gift-iphones-blackberrys-no/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Though we can't say we're entirely shocked -- after all, it's not like some other handset will really satisfy when you've had your eye on that one -- a recent survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found that smartphones were the number one returned gadget this holiday season. Granted, the study was one of online nature, and neither Apple's iPhone nor any of RIM's BlackBerrys were included (um, why not?), but we digress. Reportedly, more than one-fifth (21-percent, to be precise) of smartphone recipients surveyed said they hustled back to the store shortly after gift giving was over and promptly returned it, and comically enough, the "inability to understand the product setup process was cited as the primary reason" that consumers did so. 'Tis a shame, really. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via textually, image courtesy of LawyersAndSettlements]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>holidayholidaysholidazeorcresearchreturnssmartphonestudysurveyTue, 29 Jan 2008 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[FDA-commissioned study says we don't know much about wireless risks]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/21/fda-commissioned-study-says-we-dont-know-much-about-wireless-ri/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/21/fda-commissioned-study-says-we-dont-know-much-about-wireless-ri/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/21/fda-commissioned-study-says-we-dont-know-much-about-wireless-ri/#commentsFiled under: ,

Just in case our long-running series of posts regarding the danger / safety of cellphone and WiFi radiation didn't tip you off, an FDA-commissioned study was just published by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science that basically says we've got a lot left to learn about the effects of all those radio waves. The FDA wanted to know where to concentrate research efforts in order to better understand wireless safety, and it looks like there are quite a few gaps in the research: the study says there needs to be further study on the effects of wireless radiation on children, pregnant women, and fetuses, both long- and short-term, and that frequency and power differences between different types of radiation need to be better understood in order to apply current knowledge to new products. All in all, it looks like there's a lot we don't know -- but that's not going to stop us from rocking this Bluetooth headset while browsing and taking a call.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dangerousnot dangerousNotDangerousMon, 21 Jan 2008 21:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Yapping motorists found to make long commutes longer]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/03/yapping-motorists-found-to-make-long-commutes-longer/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/03/yapping-motorists-found-to-make-long-commutes-longer/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/03/yapping-motorists-found-to-make-long-commutes-longer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As if there wasn't already enough conflicting evidence surrounding the act of talking while driving, along comes a new "study" suggesting that yapping motorists actually make long commutes even longer. According to David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah, drivers on the phone tend to cruise "about 2 miles-per-hour slower on commuter-clogged roads than people not on the phone, and they just don't keep up with the flow of traffic." Of course, one may wonder just how much difference that would make if traffic is crawling already, but we digress. Additionally, it should be noted that the results were garnered from three dozen students "driving in simulators," but nevertheless, Mr. Strayer still maintains that "distracted drivers are adding an extra five to ten percent of time to your commute." Telecommuting never sounded so good, eh?

[Via Techdirt]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Experts predict malware field day for iPhone in '08]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/experts-predict-malware-field-day-for-iphone-in-08/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/experts-predict-malware-field-day-for-iphone-in-08/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/experts-predict-malware-field-day-for-iphone-in-08/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Like Y2K and the end of rock and roll, pundits love to call out platforms that are ripe for a nightmarish, post-apocalyptic hell-on-earth sort of attack by the world's technologically inclined miscreants. In that vein, mobile phones have been billed for years as the next great frontier in virii, largely because they're getting smarter, more open, and more ubiquitous than ever before. We can buy that logic, but the waves upon waves of malicious code infecting the world's smartphones simply haven't happened. So at what point do we say that these analysts are crying wolf?

Now might not be a bad time to start, as Arbor Networks' security group is calling the iPhone a likely target in 2008 by hackers who want to "be the first to hack a new platform." We wouldn't dare say that there won't be attacks on the iPhone's security holes next year and beyond, but we don't think users need to be scrambling to disable their data connections, either; Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm OS, and everyone else have gotten along fine for years aside from the occasional malware blip on the radar that barely makes a splash and goes unnoticed by 99 percent of the world's users. Not to mention the fact that the opportunity to "be the first" to hack the iPhone has come and gone -- so to the hackers of the world who're thinking about diving into the wide world of iPhone hacking, may we suggest you put your brainpower to the forces of good, not evil?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleattackhackerhackersiphonemaliciousmalwareMon, 17 Dec 2007 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Over an eighth of US households are totally mobile]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/12/over-an-eighth-of-us-households-are-totally-mobile/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/12/over-an-eighth-of-us-households-are-totally-mobile/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/12/over-an-eighth-of-us-households-are-totally-mobile/#commentsFiled under:

As long as we continue to not drop dead from the use of cellphones in our daily lives, the move away from landlines seems totally inevitable for obvious reasons: convenience, portability, having a single point of contact, the list goes on. The Center for Disease Control's National Health Interview Survey validates that Americans feel the same way, showing an upward tick in the number of homes that have gone exclusively mobile (a weird survey to be fleshing out such fascinating stats on the wireless industry, but whatevs). Overall, 13.9 percent said they've ditched the landlines, but the real story seems to be in the breakdowns; 28 percent of renters were mobile-only compared to just 6.7 percent of homeowners. The 25 to 29 year old age bracket was the most likely to rely solely on their cellphones, with 18 to 24 coming in second -- probably because they're still living under their old-skool parents' roofs, we'd imagine. Homes under the poverty level were also more likely to go strictly with their mobiles, and finally -- here's the CDC's health tie-in -- mobile folks were far more likely to be binge drinkers, smokers, and lack health insurance, though they were also more likely to work out in their spare hours. Now if you'll excuse us, we've gotta go hit the treadmill.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americanhomeshouseholdhouseholdsstudyususaWed, 12 Dec 2007 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocker: people loathe cellphone carriers]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We know, we know, it may be difficult to understand how companies that lock you in the moment you decide on a phone / plan -- only to be about as helpful as a bottomless bucket the moment turmoil arises -- could be hated. Nevertheless, we can't say we're shocked at all to hear that cellphone providers are among the least liked in all of the service industries. In a recent report released by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, it was found that "fewer than half of respondents were completely or very satisfied with their cellphone service," and sadly, that's hardly different than in years past. Among the biggest gripes were high prices and mandatory contract extensions, and while pro-rated ETFs are fine and dandy, there's still a few less notable carriers that haven't swallowed that pill just yet. As for internal rankings, Verizon and Alltel each scored higher than the rest, and Sprint was found bringing up the rear.

[Via Wired]
Read - InformationWeek
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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcarriercarrierscomplaintconsumer reportsConsumerReportsgripehatehatedissueproblemreportssprintverizonSat, 08 Dec 2007 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Report from bizarro world: Centro, i760 best designed phones]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/report-from-bizarro-world-centro-i760-best-designed-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/report-from-bizarro-world-centro-i760-best-designed-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/report-from-bizarro-world-centro-i760-best-designed-phones/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Although "innovative" isn't exactly the word we chose to use when summing up Palm's Centro, apparently the public at large sees things a little differently -- or, so says this report, anyway. According to a buyer behavior writeup from Strategy Analytics, the Centro "attracted the most attention from nearly half of the tested US consumers who are intending to purchase a new mobile device" in Q4, and it even ranked ahead of the second-place Samsung i760 in the "appealing" department. Both of the aforementioned handsets were hailed as the top choices (saywha?) for folks "seeking a multifunction, fully integrated device," while the Nokia Prism and LG Rumor also got a few props along the way. Of course, it's always best to take these "studies" with a healthy serving of salt, but if you wanted something to debate about, you've found it.

[Via MobileWhack]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystanalystscentrodesigni760palmsamsungStrategy AnalyticsStrategyAnalyticsstudytestThu, 06 Dec 2007 20:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile phone subscriptions hit 3.3 billion]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/29/mobile-phone-subscriptions-hit-3-3-billion/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/29/mobile-phone-subscriptions-hit-3-3-billion/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/29/mobile-phone-subscriptions-hit-3-3-billion/#commentsFiled under: ,

Just last month we heard that there were some 2.68 billion mobile accounts currently active in the world, but a new study by Informa has found that there are actually 3.3 billion subscriptions. This number is somewhat significant considering that it's approximately half of the world's population, but alas, not half of all Earthlings actually own a cellphone. Researchers found that 59 countries had mobile penetration over 100 percent, suggesting that some individuals actually accounted for numerous mobile subscriptions. Sure, the figures here could be picked apart in a myriad ways, but why not just raise your handset to commemorate hitting the big three point three? You are one of them, right?

[Image courtesy of W3]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountsphone linesPhoneLinessubscriptionsworldworld recordWorldRecordThu, 29 Nov 2007 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korean civic group set to rid country of mobile phone addiction?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/25/south-korean-civic-group-set-to-rid-country-of-mobile-phone-addi/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/25/south-korean-civic-group-set-to-rid-country-of-mobile-phone-addi/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/25/south-korean-civic-group-set-to-rid-country-of-mobile-phone-addi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In an effort to battle the evils of mobile culture and it addictive effects, the civic group School Beautiful Movement together with SKT Telecom and Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity (KADO), has launched a program to help kids better manage their cell use. Twelve kids were chosen from elementary, middle, and high schools to participate in the program and will spend time talking about the cell use, feelings when their cell isn't available, and proper use over the next two months. The program will also feature special cell phone lockers for the kids to hide their handsets away in during class time if the urge is just too great. In a KADO survey from 2005 it was revealed that 90% of South Koreans between 14 and 19 had mobiles and 38% of those sent more than 1,000 text messages a month, and 43% reported using them during -- gasp -- lectures. While we think this is all a very good idea -- and know that we could totally quit anytime we wanted to, we just don't want to -- we have to wonder why SKT is onboard here, perhaps new mobile for all the participants SKT?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionKADOSchool Beautiful MovementSchoolBeautifulMovementSKTSouth KoreanSouthKoreanSun, 25 Nov 2007 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[US 3G phone sales crack the 50 percent mark]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/21/us-3g-phone-sales-crack-the-50-percent-mark/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/21/us-3g-phone-sales-crack-the-50-percent-mark/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/21/us-3g-phone-sales-crack-the-50-percent-mark/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hello, T-Mobile, anyone home? Despite T-Mobile's giant 2G drag on the overall retail picture, 3G phones outsold their 2G counterparts in the third quarter in the US by a 55 to 45 percent margin. Topping the 3G list was the Motorola RAZR V3m, followed by the LG VX8300 (really?). The number one seller overall was -- you guessed it -- the lowly RAZR V3, a phone that has seemingly well outlasted its retail viability but continues to hustle off shelves as long as carriers are willing to offer them at bargain basement prices. Oh, and yes, we know the whole 3G thing isn't really your fault, T-Mobile!

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3ghandsethandsetsretailsalesstudyunited statesUnitedStatesususaWed, 21 Nov 2007 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon, T-Mobile take top honors in latest J.D. Power survey]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/10/verizon-t-mobile-take-top-honors-in-latest-j-d-power-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/10/verizon-t-mobile-take-top-honors-in-latest-j-d-power-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/10/verizon-t-mobile-take-top-honors-in-latest-j-d-power-survey/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We typically expect to see T-Mobile top J.D. Power's wireless customer satisfaction surveys, but it seems Verizon's been sneaking up on the peeps in pink. In Volume 2 of its 2007 study -- Volume 1 having come out in May -- Verizon has ended T-Mobile's 5-period streak atop the rankings, scoring 726 on a 1000 point scale to take the crown. To be fair, T-Mobile slides in just one measly point behind at 725, but it's still gotta smart a bit to lose the title. AT&T, Alltel, and Sprint Nextel round out the top five, scoring 708, 695, and 679, respectively. Not even Verizon really deserves to pop the bubbly here, though, seeing how the survey represents a 12-point slide in industry average satisfaction year over year and a 7-point decline since the last reporting period. Maybe the whole prorated ETF fad will start to turn things around?

[Via MobileBurn]
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Today is shaping up to be Rogers Wireless day in these parts, as the announcement of a 7.2 Mbps HSPA trial has fired up in Montreal and Brampton -- Brampton? We've seen 7.2 networks lighting up here and there and are pretty stoked to see this in this neck of the woods -- and certainly hope to see this catch on quickly. While no details are mentioned in the press materials -- like, can this be accessed by the public or is it closed -- we're gonna do some digging and -- if possible -- armed with a data card, some testing.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7.2HSDPAHSPAHSUPArogersRogers WirelessRogersWirelesstrialTue, 30 Oct 2007 12:32:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone report: most owners left Treos, Sidekicks behind]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/iphone-report-most-owners-left-treos-sidekicks-behind/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/iphone-report-most-owners-left-treos-sidekicks-behind/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/iphone-report-most-owners-left-treos-sidekicks-behind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


While we've seen a variety of surveys pitting the iPhone against its most notable rivals, a recent study conducted by the NPD Group breaks down the numbers behind who left what phone (and what carrier) to acquire an iPhone. Not surprisingly, iPhone early adopters were "ten times more likely than other new phone buyers to have previously owned a Treo and three times more likely to have owned a T-Mobile branded phone, such as the popular Sidekick model." When it came to carriers, Alltel and T-Mobile were said to have lost the most customers to AT&T, as consumers who "switched carriers to buy an iPhone were three times more likely to switch from Alltel or T-Mobile than from other carriers." Notably, the lack of "corporate email support" was pinpointed as the main reason that many BlackBerry users didn't make the leap, but it did praise the iPhone for helping to "bridge the gap between consumer-focused feature phones and productivity-focused smartphones."
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleblackberrybusinesscomparisonindustryiphoneresearchsidekicksmartphonestudytreoMon, 15 Oct 2007 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenpeace dismantles iPhone, discovers "hazardous chemicals"]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/greenpeace-dismantles-iphone-discovers-hazardous-chemicals/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/greenpeace-dismantles-iphone-discovers-hazardous-chemicals/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/greenpeace-dismantles-iphone-discovers-hazardous-chemicals/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Apple's no stranger to being slammed by Greenpeace, and while Steve certainly spoke of a "Greener Apple," it seems that the iPhone wasn't included. According to tests arranged by the entity, it was found that the iPhone contained "toxic brominated compounds (indicating the presence of brominated flame retardants) and hazardous PVC," which are said to be disallowed across the pond due to RoHS requirements. More specifically, the independent testing found "brominated compounds in half the samples, including in the phone's antenna, in which they made up 10-percent of the total weight of the flexible circuit board." As expected, Greenpeace wasted no time pointing to rival firms that have received pats on the back for their green efforts, and subsequently shook a finger at Apple while murmuring "tsk tsk" -- but we'll leave the actual politicking to you all in comments, cool?

Update: Greenpeace does not claim that Apple is in violation of RoHS.

[Via Switched, thanks Laura]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleenvironmentgreengreenpeaceiphonetoxicMon, 15 Oct 2007 15:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Study investigates relationship between walking and talking]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/07/study-investigates-relationship-between-walking-and-talking/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/07/study-investigates-relationship-between-walking-and-talking/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/07/study-investigates-relationship-between-walking-and-talking/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In of the less glamorous studies we've seen, a team of researchers from a variety of universities came together to study the possible link between walking and communicating via cellphone. In essence, researchers reckoned that by rigging up a Windows Mobile-based handset to vibrate slightly to the rhythm of one's footsteps, the other participate would simply fall in line (and have a more enriched experience) without actually being near the other individual. In testing, however, it was noticed that although the vibrations did help synchronize participants' steps when they were reciting scripted dialogue, a fair amount of subjects managed to mimic each other's gait sans assistance when carrying on a genuine conversation. If you're not snoring by now, feel free to hit the read link to view the research in its entirety. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via Textually]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>footstepsgaitresearchstudysynchronizationwalkingSun, 07 Oct 2007 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, hearing loss edition]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/28/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-hearing-loss-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/28/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-hearing-loss-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/28/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-hearing-loss-edition/#commentsFiled under:

Apparently, talking on a cellphone for 60 minutes or more per day can result in a partial loss of hearing -- at least that's what some researchers in India are saying. The scientists conducted an experiment to test the correlation of hearing loss to the average use of a cellphone call. The experiment covered 100 participants with cellphone usage ranging from four years and over to just started using a cellphone. The results? Long-time users seemed to suffer some high-frequency hearing loss, usually in their right ears -- the ear most commonly used for chatting on the celly. There also seemed to be some correlation between warm, full, or ringing sensations in the ear, so if you're experiencing any of those, enjoy the stealth ringtone while you still can.

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DangerousHearinghearing lossHearingLossStudiesFri, 28 Sep 2007 16:13:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone trumps HTC Touch, N95 in usability study]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We've given you your chance to choose a champion amongst the iPhone, HTC Touch and LG Prada, and while the latter wasn't included at LG's request, the other two were recently pit against Nokia's N95 in a study of usability. The test was reportedly conducted by Perceptive Sciences, a Texas-based usability consulting firm, and relied on data from just ten individuals who had "never used any of the three devices." The group was asked to "perform a series of tasks on each handset with quantifiable results, such as the time needed to find and use the on / off switch," and when all was said and done, the iPhone managed to snag the gold. Of course, we wouldn't take these results to be the bonafide truth, but if you're interested in seeing what all the mobiles (and guinea pigs) went through before a winner was chosen, head on over to the read link.

[Via iLounge]
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Researchers across the pond at the UK Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHRP) are without a conclusive answer on the short term effects on the brain from mobile phones. After a six year study on the effects of mobile phones on brain and cell functions, researchers found what's to be described as a hint of a cancer risk when exposed. Does anyone else feel a little nervous with non-scientific words being used to describe negative consequences of something most of us do on a daily basis? Leave a comment if you can break the medical jargon!

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerstudiesstudyTue, 18 Sep 2007 23:53:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone price drop leads to sales boost]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/12/iphone-price-drop-leads-to-sales-boost/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/12/iphone-price-drop-leads-to-sales-boost/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/12/iphone-price-drop-leads-to-sales-boost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Shocking, we know. As if the price drops on the PlayStation 3 weren't evidence enough that we all like our gizmos a bit cheaper, a new report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster claims that iPhone sales skyrocketed shortly after the (hotly contested) price drops. According to his math, Apple needed to sell some 136,000 iPhones between September 5th (the day of the cuts) and September 9th (the day Apple claimed to have sold one million of its mobiles), which meant that 27,000 iPhones per day were getting unboxed in the five-day period. Comparatively, Munster approximated that Cupertino was unloading around 9,000 iPhones per day prior to the price cuts. 'Course, even Gene doubts that the recent sales surge will be able to hold steady, but we'd say the slashings have already had their desired effect.

[Via DailyTech]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisapplebusinessiphonepriceprice cutPriceCutreportsalesWed, 12 Sep 2007 14:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, low brain activity edition]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/11/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-low-brain-activity-editi/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/11/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-low-brain-activity-editi/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/11/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-low-brain-activity-editi/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dutch scientists seem to be binging on cellphone studies lately, with their latest research pointing out that frequent mobile phones users have lower brain activity. In the study conducted by Radboud University of Nijmegen and Brainclinics Diagnostic, groups of 100 frequent, infrequent, and non-cell users were compared. Apparently the frequent user's brain activity was the lowest in the groups studied -- though top points were scored on focusing on specific issues -- but still fell with "normal" ranges. So in the future, if you see the number of typos here start to climb rapidly interspersed with fits of drooling, apparently that's the sacrifice we're here to make.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, hospital edition redux]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/07/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-hospital-edition-redux/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/07/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-hospital-edition-redux/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/07/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-hospital-edition-redux/#commentsFiled under: ,

Well, in true dangerous / not dangerous fashion, the bit we did on cells being safe to use in hospitals has been rolled over and proven false by yet another study. The BBC is reporting that in a study performed by Dutch researchers, the case for mobile phones interfering with hospital equipment has been stregthened. The group tested 61 devices, and the majority could be affected by mobiles -- though no word on what was considered as "affected". Of all of the equipment poked at, six intensive care ventilator systems behavior was classified as hazardous as they are plugged directly into patients. As a side note, 3G handsets are less likely to cause problems, but don't appear to be completely guilt free.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bancell phones are dangerousCellPhonesAreDangerousequipmenthospitalFri, 07 Sep 2007 04:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Planet Earth: now home to four billion phone lines]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/05/planet-earth-now-home-to-four-billion-phone-lines/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/05/planet-earth-now-home-to-four-billion-phone-lines/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/05/planet-earth-now-home-to-four-billion-phone-lines/#commentsFiled under: ,

Go on, pick your jaw up off the floor -- this isn't that staggering, now is it? Considering all those cellphones that have been sold here recently, and the plethora of folks who just refuse to ditch that landline, four billion total phone lines seems just about right, truth be told. According to the International Telecommunications Union, our planet is now home to about "1.27 billion fixed lines and 2.68 billion mobile accounts," but the total number of people represented by these data is much less clear. Notably, the study found that "61-percent of the world's mobile subscribers are in developing countries," and further added that China and India were greatly to thank for reaching the milestone. And just think, there were less than 1 billion lines combined across the globe just 11 years ago.

[Image courtesy of OwlRecruitment]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>landlinesphone linesPhoneLinesphonesworldworld recordWorldRecordWed, 05 Sep 2007 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, cell division edition]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/02/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-cell-division-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/02/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-cell-division-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/02/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-cell-division-edition/#commentsFiled under:

So apparently, virtually all existing official limits for radiation emitted by mobiles (FCC, we're looking at you) are based on the assumption that the dangerous effects of that radiation are caused by heating of the brain. Pretty big assumption, eh? A new study by Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science suggest that some "non-thermal" forces are at play, though, noting that chemicals involved in brain cell division were affected in tests on rats after just 10 minutes of exposure to cellphone radiation. Improper cell division goes hand in hand with cancer, so the finding is a rather alarming one. Of course, you know the drill: for every study that suggests phones are dangerous, we can certainly dredge up one that says they aren't -- just be forewarned that a cool brain isn't necessarily a healthy one.

[Via CNET]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braincancercell divisionCellDivisioncellsdangerousstudytumorSun, 02 Sep 2007 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Study suggests 100% mobile phone penetration in the US by 2013]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/26/study-suggests-100-mobile-phone-penetration-in-the-us-by-2013/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/26/study-suggests-100-mobile-phone-penetration-in-the-us-by-2013/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/26/study-suggests-100-mobile-phone-penetration-in-the-us-by-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,


We know, that "100-percent" figure may be a bit tough to wrap your mind around, but let's give it a try, shall we? Current estimates reportedly suggest that "nearly 84-percent of the US population will have mobile phones by the end of 2007," and according to SNL Kagen, that figure should shoot to 100-percent in just six years. Notably, 100-percent penetration does not mean that every single American will own a phone, as it's estimated that some 18 to 20-percent of us will be using multiple mobiles. Additionally, it was noted that data usage / revenue could become increasingly important as newcomers to the wireless world grow fewer, but that tidbit certainly isn't taking anyone by surprise, now is it?

[Via mocoNews, image courtesy of JevaTech]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americanspenetrationususaSun, 26 Aug 2007 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Study finds no link between car accidents and yapping whilst driving]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/25/study-finds-no-link-between-car-accidents-and-yapping-whilst-dri/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/25/study-finds-no-link-between-car-accidents-and-yapping-whilst-dri/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/25/study-finds-no-link-between-car-accidents-and-yapping-whilst-dri/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're ready for a healthy dose of unconventional wisdom, you've come to the right place, as a couple of confident graduate student economists at UC-Berkeley are purporting that there is "no match in the evening cellphone use spike and crash data." Basically, the duo is suggesting that although we've been on the mobile horn a lot more these days, the number of fatal vehicular accidents over the past 18 years have not experienced the same leap. Weird logic, we know, so take it for whatever it is (or isn't) worth.

[Via Wired]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berkeleycarconnectiondrivingresearchstudytalking drivingTalkingDrivinguniversitySat, 25 Aug 2007 19:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: Americans overwhelmingly against texting while driving, in theory]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/13/poll-americans-overwhelmingly-against-texting-while-driving-in/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/13/poll-americans-overwhelmingly-against-texting-while-driving-in/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/13/poll-americans-overwhelmingly-against-texting-while-driving-in/#commentsFiled under: ,

Be honest, when's the last time you responded to a text message from behind the wheel? If you're in with the majority of cellphone-toting Americans, you've done it -- though you probably also think it should be outlawed. A recent poll of about 2,000 US adults found that some 57 percent had participated in a little SMS action while driving at some point in their lives, but they were at least cognizant of its danger, with 91 percent guessing it was as dangerous as driving on a couple drinks. We'd guess as much, too -- if not more so, considering that texting takes brain function and your eyes away from the road. 89 percent of the polled folks want the practice outlawed, which really makes us wonder about those two percent that know it's dangerous and want to keep on doing it. Let us know to stay away with a bumper sticker on your jalopy, k?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivingdriving while textingDrivingWhileTextingdwtpolltextingtexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingMon, 13 Aug 2007 10:48:00 EST