Nearly One in Five Recent Wireless Purchasers Have No Landline Phone

CEA Research Finds Consumers Satisfied with Wireless Purchasing Experience and Prefer Wireless Carrier Stores for Research, Purchases

ARLINGTON, Va. – New research released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) shows a shift away from landlines to wireless phones for many consumers, particularly younger age groups, those who rent their homes and singles. A full 17 percent of consumers who purchased wireless phones in the last 90 days reported using their wireless phones exclusively.

The Wireless Purchasing Study: Measuring Satisfaction and Loyalty also found the majority of consumers are satisfied with their wireless phone buying experience, which may be helping to increase the number of wireless-only households. The study found high satisfaction levels for in-person as well as online purchases of wireless phones. Respondents gave customer service representatives high marks for product and service knowledge, courtesy and availability.

“The results of this research study disprove the assumption that consumers are dissatisfied with their wireless purchasing experience,” says Steve Koenig, CEA’s senior manager of industry analysis. “In fact, a majority of wireless customers are loyal to the store from which they purchased their phone.”

Study results showed that two-thirds of consumers prefer to shop for wireless phones in-person, although a fair minority–27 percent–look to the Internet as their primary shopping method. Although a majority of consumers spend less than one hour researching wireless phone options, study results show that those who do spend more time are more satisfied with their purchases. Although smaller in number, buyers who visit independent retail shops are particularly enthusiastic about conducting research. As a result, they report higher levels of satisfaction compared to those who buy from carrier stores.

“Wireless handsets account for 11 percent of the $123 billion in total CE industry shipment revenues expected this year,” says Koenig. “With billions of dollars at stake, it is critical for the industry to understand how consumers approach wireless phone purchases. As it becomes increasingly difficult to compete on price in the wireless industry, it is clear that service before and after the sale will be the basis for building customer loyalty in the future.”

CEA’s Wireless Purchasing Study: Measuring Satisfaction and Loyalty was administered via Internet web form to an online national sample of 1,184 U.S. adults between October 3 and 10, 2005. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. The complete study is available free to CEA member companies. Non-members may purchase the study for $499 at http://www.ce.org/CEAStore.

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA’s members account for more than $122 billion in annual sales. CEA’s resources are available online at http://www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Defining Tomorrow’s Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy