11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
You know, I do this all the time. But I thought I was the only one. From PewInternet.org:
Cell phones can help prevent unwanted personal interactions – 13% of cell owners pretended to be using their phone in order to avoid interacting with the people around them.
What's interesting to me, though, is that for all of the noise about apps and mobile video, only 35% of Americans have a smartphone capable of doing any of that stuff. It's still mostly the basic stuff:
Text messaging and picture taking continue to top the list of ways that Americans use their mobile phones—three quarters of all cell owners (73%) use their phones for each of these purposes.
I guess that means there are still a lot of smartphones left to be sold. Which may explain this:
Google is buying handset maker Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in cash.
That's a 61% premium.
Needless to say this is a game-changer in the mobile world, as Google moves down the stack, and is no longer just an operating system provider meaning it competes directly with Apple as well as the various other handset makers who currently use Android.
But if 11% of cell phone users are just pretending, Google may be over-paying.
- Comment (18)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments :
Jul '11
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
I'm unsure of Google's move here. Traditionally they have shied away from hardware because of the overhead and changeable nature of their business. If they jump into 'self-manufactured' and branded phones and tablets, they may alienate a huge portion of their existing consumer base (anything running android at this point).
I agree though, a 61% premium does seem a bit high.
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Hold on one second Rob I'll be right with you...
/turns
//prays ringer doesn't go off while holding phone to ear
Feb '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
It's really more about protection from patent lawsuits than anything else.
See Google's Motorola Purchase Was a Patent Power Play for example...
Edited on Aug 16, 2011 at 2:31pmOct '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
So only 13% of the population is either rude or incapable of adult interaction ?
Jul '11
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
I developed a fake cheap blue tooth for schizophrenics so when they are answering the voices in their heads people think its a phone call. Saves tons on pricey medications and lessens social awkwardness too.
Jun '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
BSA is right. As an ex-Motorolan myself, Motorola was a pioneer in radio, cellular and other communications technologies, and has a boatload of patents. What they couldn't do is stay price-competitive over the long haul (among many other issues), and thus have been forced to sell off most of their bread and butter over the years.
Next best thing to controlling market share of something is to control the patents and intellectual property that undergirds it.
Dec '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
13% of the time, I'm just pretending to be interested in what the other person on my phone is saying.
Jun '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Are you implying that Rob is either rude or incapable of adult interaction? And if so, which one?
Jul '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Only 13% of the population admits to pollsters that they are either rude, incapable of adult interaction, or trying to avoid the Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists.
Oct '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
I do that all the time to avoid the obnoxious vendors trying to sell to pedestrians.
Oct '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Joseph Stanko
Are you implying that Rob is either rude or incapable of adult interaction? And if so, which one? · Aug 16 at 3:15pm
Not hardly on either point. The general rudeness factor in the public at large is far greater than some 13%. The concept of hiding behind a cell phone reveals something far more absurd in behavior.
As for avoiding Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists, JWs, etc. Feel free to dissagree and have some form expression that is respectfull and polite.
In short, anyone lacking the social skills to deal with a given situation and hide behind a cell phone demonstrates a weak spine and spirit. They are just looking for a hole to crawl into.....
Jul '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
How many people acted like they were on their cell to keep Pew from asking them poll questions?
Jul '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
wilber forge
Joseph Stanko
Are you implying that Rob is either rude or incapable of adult interaction? And if so, which one? · Aug 16 at 3:15pm
Not hardly on either point. The general rudeness factor in the public at large is far greater than some 13%. The concept of hiding behind a cell phone reveals something far more absurd in behavior.
As for avoiding Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists, JWs, etc. Feel free to dissagree and have some form expression that is respectfull and polite.
In short, anyone lacking the social skills to deal with a given situation and hide behind a cell phone demonstrates a weak spine and spirit. They are just looking for a hole to crawl into.....
· Aug 16 at 3:50pm
Anyone that succumbs to the Groundhog Day-like experience of conversing with Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists owing to social pressure is a wimp. Life is too short. It hasn't even been decent sport since Junior High.
Jan '11
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
"Are you faking on a cellphone?"
How did that kind of a question come up? Pollsters remind me of the Christopher Guest character in The Princess Bride, the six-fingered villain, Count Rugen:
Oct '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Sisyphus
wilber forge
Joseph Stanko
Are you implying that Rob is either rude or incapable of adult interaction? And if so, which one? · Aug 16 at 3:15pm
Not hardly on either point. The general rudeness factor in the public at large is far greater than some 13%. The concept of hiding behind a cell phone reveals something far more absurd in behavior.
As for avoiding Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists, JWs, etc. Feel free to dissagree and have some form expression that is respectfull and polite.
In short, anyone lacking the social skills to deal with a given situation and hide behind a cell phone demonstrates a weak spine and spirit. They are just looking for a hole to crawl into.....
· Aug 16 at 3:50pm
Anyone that succumbs to the Groundhog Day-like experience of conversing with Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists owing to social pressure is a wimp. Life is too short. It hasn't even been decent sport since Junior High. · Aug 16 at 4:31pm
Not much sport anymore...Agreed...
Oct '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Now this is a puzzlement, Free cell phones and minutes for the homeless on your taxed dime. If they are talking, are they pretending ? Work with that...
Jul '10
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
wilber forge
Sisyphus
wilber forge
... The general rudeness factor in the public at large is far greater than some 13%. The concept of hiding behind a cell phone reveals something far more absurd in behavior.
As for avoiding Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists, JWs, etc. Feel free to dissagree and have some form expression that is respectfull and polite.
In short, anyone lacking the social skills to deal with a given situation and hide behind a cell phone demonstrates a weak spine and spirit. They are just looking for a hole to crawl into.....
· Aug 16 at 3:50pm
Anyone that succumbs to the Groundhog Day-like experience of conversing with Hare Krishnas and Seventh Day Adventists owing to social pressure is a wimp. Life is too short. It hasn't even been decent sport since Junior High. · Aug 16 at 4:31pm
Not much sport anymore...Agreed... · Aug 16 at 4:59pm
Pax ;-)
Jan '11
Re: 11% of Cell Phone Users are Just Pretending
Ha! Anderson Cooper pretends to talk on the phone to avoid drunk fans.