Upoc's Mobile Lifestyle and Wireless Usage Survey Shows Wireless is Mainstream 58% of Americans 12 and Older Now Own Mobile Phones

Upoc, the leading developer of mobile community and marketing technologies, today revealed new survey results on the penetration of wireless devices and the increase in wireless Web and text messaging access among Americans. According to a study fielded by Frank N. Magid & Associates, commissioned by Upoc, over 58 percent of Americans 12 and older now own a mobile phone. Further, the study shows that penetration is high in all age groups:

• 51% of teens own a mobile phone
• 61% of college-aged Americans own a mobile phone
• 60% of 25-29 year olds own a mobile phone
• 68% of 30-34 year olds own a mobile phone
• 62% of 35-54 year olds own a mobile phone
• 50% of 55+ year olds own a mobile phone

Increased Usage of Advanced Features

Wireless data availability continues to grow across multiple age groups as well. The study indicates that 21 percent of mobile phone owners 12+ have access to the wireless Internet, and that 40 percent are currently aware of having SMS (text messaging) on their phones. Awareness and usage of these services are so far more prevalent among the youth and young adult markets, mirroring the rapid, youth-led adoption pattern seen in both Europe and Japan. For instance, the study revealed that 41 percent of college-aged mobile phone owners have wireless Internet access and 65 percent of them are aware of having text messaging on their phones.

"The widespread adoption of wireless SMS and wireless Internet usage is beginning to take hold in the United States," said David Sklaver, CEO of Upoc. "We've had our finger on the pulse of the mobile lifestyle for the past few years and this study reflects our commitment to understanding this fast moving trend."

Between Oct. 17 and Nov. 5, 2001, Frank N. Magid Associates conducted telephone interviews with 1,112 people living in the United States on their interest in and behaviors regarding both new and traditional forms of media. Data Shows the Impact of 9/11 on Mobile Lifestyle

Additionally, the study found that the events of September 11th changed many Americans' feelings about mobile phones. For example:

• 43 percent of mobile phone owners feel safer with their mobile phones than without one (28 percent of non-owners say they would feel safer if they had one)
• 39 percent of mobile phone owners feel more strongly that their family members should have mobile phones
• 25 percent of mobile phone owners say mobile phones are more important to them now than they were before (23 percent of non-owners feel they are more important)
• 20 percent say they carry their mobile phones with them more than they did before
• 8 percent of mobile phone owners say they're planning on buying a family member a mobile phone (10 percent of non-owners say they're planning such a purchase); 7 percent say they're going to upgrade their mobile phones as a direct result of September 11th
• 15 percent of non-owners are planning on buying a mobile phone for themselves and 10 percent intend to get one for one or more family members as a direct result of September 11th

About Upoc

Upoc is the leading developer of cross-platform, carrier-agnostic mobile community technologies for reaching consumers across any wireless device. Upoc enables marketers, retailers, consumer goods and media companies to instantly reach their prime audiences with mobile communities, content, commerce and targeted promotions. Institutional investors in Upoc include Patricof & Co. ventures, Advent International, Allen & Company, Arts Alliance, Tribune Company (TRB), and Sony Music. Launched as the first start-up in residence at Ericsson Cyberlab, Upoc has 45 employees and is based in New York.

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