Communications and Technology Industry Research

According to a new study released during the Mobile World Congress (News - Alert), happening now in Barcelona, Spain, the number of seniors embracing mobile technology is varied throughout Europe, with Sweden having the largest amount of people over 65 owning mobile phones.

 

The study was commissioned by Doro (News - Alert), a British mobile phone maker of devices targeted at senior citizens and was conducted by research firm Synovate, who surveyed 2,000 people over 65 in five countries to uncover the attitudes and habits of senior usage of mobile phones.

 

Newmarket, England based-Doro offers “easy to use mobiles” targeted toward senior citizens that include bigger buttons and simpler functions.

 

Senior use of cell phones in the U.K. is growing with 73 percent using their phones to make calls and 37 percent to send text messages.

 

One report on the study notes that only 41 percent of seniors in France own a handset, while 91 percent own the technology in Sweden. Also, three in four British and US pensioners own handsets.

 

In addition to this shortfall, the study also reportedly found a gap between the number of people who own cell phones who are older than 75, and those who are younger.

 

While almost 90 percent of seniors aged 65 to 74 owning a mobile phone, only two-thirds of older-aged senior citizens said they had a phone.

 

Reportedly, 77 percent of seniors in the UK have access to a mobile phone, but 49 percent of respondents said they still feel intimidated and hesitant of the new technology.

'Many seniors experience difficulties when handling technical products due to problems relating to sight, hearing, poor mobility and indeed limited dexterity. At Doro we believe that seniors will call and use services to a much greater extent as soon as they possess a mobile phone developed with their needs in mind,' Kjell Reidar Mydske, marketing and sales director at Doro said.