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Study shows more Americans rely solely on cell phones
(Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jan. 22--CEDAR FALLS -- To Josh Comer, it was a matter of necessity.
Comer, 22, recently moved to Cedar Falls from Des Moines to attend the University of Northern Iowa. Between his school work and his full-time job, Comer isn't left with much time in his apartment. When he needs to make a phone call, only one option will do.
"Basically, I'm never really at home so a cell phone is the only thing that really works for me," Comer said.
When Comer moved to the area, he decided not to have a land line connected to his apartment, making him one of the growing number of Americans who forego wired phones in favor of only carrying a cell phone.
According to a survey by The Yankee Group, about 15 million Americans rely solely on wireless phones at their home.
The trend seems to be growing as well. A separate study by the Consumer Electronics Association, released in December, showed 17 percent of customers who purchased a wireless phone in the previous three months used their cell phones exclusively.
Jodi Valenta, area sales manager for U.S. Cellular, said one place were she has seen the trend is in wireless number portability, which allows customers to keep their current local phone numbers when switching wireless providers. Wireless number portability also allows people to keep, or port, their land line numbers when signing up for a wireless phone.
"They're bringing in their land line numbers and having them ported to their cell phones," Valenta said.
The most likely groups to go exclusively wireless are the younger generations. Kara Rovere, spokeswoman for Qwest Inc., said her company has seen the move to exclusive wireless use primarily concentrated in the youth market.
The Yankee Group survey also shows 12 percent of Americans between 18 and 24 had gone specifically wireless, or "cut the cord" in recent years, with an additional 8 percent planning to do so in the next five years.
"It's key to remember that as customers move out of that market, for example, from college life to young single professional to starting a family, needs change and Qwest changes with them," Rovere said.
One of the biggest reasons for going exclusively wireless is cost.
Melissa Sinnwell, of Nashua, said her and her husband, Brian, decided to go wireless as a means of cutting costs. The two got married this summer and are still going the apartment route. They didn't want to keep paying for land lines and cell phones, especially with the connection costs of a land line
"Basically, it's just cheaper and people can always get a hold of you," Sinnwell said.
Cost was also a concern for Comer, who said as long as a person purchased enough minutes, he figures its cheaper to just go with a cell phone.
Still, there's something to be said for the security of having a land line Sinnwell said once she and her husband move into a house, she would like to get a land line Comer, on the other hand, doesn't see it happening for himself.
"I really don't see myself getting a land line anytime soon," Comer said. "Just having a cell phone has been working out for me."
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