Cell phones a 'necessity': Survey
Cell phones a 'necessity': Survey
JAKARTA (JP): Contrary to the popular belief that mobile phone
users are spendthrift, impolite, and fashion-driven, a recent
study of the behavior of mobile phone users by Germany-based
mobile phone manufacturer Siemens revealed just the opposite.
Sarlito W. Sarwono, dean of the Faculty of Psychology at the
University of Indonesia, said on Thursday that mobile phone users
in Indonesia were in fact quite rational in their usage, care
very much about how much airtime they use, and are discreet in
their use of mobile phones.
The study by the Faculty of Psychology and the Asia Market
Intelligence (AMI), revealed that out of 210 Indonesian
respondents, 62 percent are careful about airtime costs, and 83
percent keep conversations short and to the point, he said.
"Some 80 percent of respondents turn off their cellular phones
or turn off the sound when in movie theaters, and 72 percent do
not answer the phone while at an important event," Sarlito said
in a media conference here.
Furthermore, he said that 63 percent of respondents said they
don't use their mobile phones when there's a fixed phone nearby,
and 91.4 percent said they discipline their usage of the short
message service to less than 10 messages a day.
"They are also not as fashion-driven as we thought," Sarlito
said, explaining that only 15.2 percent of respondents said they
change mobile phones to match their pop idol's choice.
However, Sarlito said that the study revealed that the mobile
phone has become a necessity instead of a luxury.
This was proven by the fact that 93 percent of respondents
said their mobile phones accompany them during holidays.
70.5 percent respondents said they feel good when carrying
their cell phones, and 54.3 percent revealed that they never
leave their mobile phones out of sight.
"Some 39 percent of respondents even said they've taken calls
while on the toilet," Sarlito said.
The survey by Singapore-based AMI was conducted in January
from 4,995 respondents in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Thailand, and Singapore. While the survey by the University of
Indonesia was undertaken between Feb. 15 and Feb. 17 from 210
respondents in specific places like universities, offices, and
malls.
The study by the University of Indonesia also revealed some
interesting facts.
Sarlito said that the majority of those who don't switch off
their mobile phones in movie theaters are in fact housewives (52
percent), and those above the age of 46 (55.6 percent).
Those who are never seen without their mobile phones consist
of mainly blue-collar workers (73 percent) and students (70
percent), while those who tend to forget where they put them are
housewives at 65.5 percent, he said. (tnt)
JAKARTA (JP): Contrary to the popular belief that mobile phone
users are spendthrift, impolite, and fashion-driven, a recent
study of the behavior of mobile phone users by Germany-based
mobile phone manufacturer Siemens revealed just the opposite.
Sarlito W. Sarwono, dean of the Faculty of Psychology at the
University of Indonesia, said on Thursday that mobile phone users
in Indonesia were in fact quite rational in their usage, care
very much about how much airtime they use, and are discreet in
their use of mobile phones.
The study by the Faculty of Psychology and the Asia Market
Intelligence (AMI), revealed that out of 210 Indonesian
respondents, 62 percent are careful about airtime costs, and 83
percent keep conversations short and to the point, he said.
"Some 80 percent of respondents turn off their cellular phones
or turn off the sound when in movie theaters, and 72 percent do
not answer the phone while at an important event," Sarlito said
in a media conference here.
Furthermore, he said that 63 percent of respondents said they
don't use their mobile phones when there's a fixed phone nearby,
and 91.4 percent said they discipline their usage of the short
message service to less than 10 messages a day.
"They are also not as fashion-driven as we thought," Sarlito
said, explaining that only 15.2 percent of respondents said they
change mobile phones to match their pop idol's choice.
However, Sarlito said that the study revealed that the mobile
phone has become a necessity instead of a luxury.
This was proven by the fact that 93 percent of respondents
said their mobile phones accompany them during holidays.
70.5 percent respondents said they feel good when carrying
their cell phones, and 54.3 percent revealed that they never
leave their mobile phones out of sight.
"Some 39 percent of respondents even said they've taken calls
while on the toilet," Sarlito said.
The survey by Singapore-based AMI was conducted in January
from 4,995 respondents in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Thailand, and Singapore. While the survey by the University of
Indonesia was undertaken between Feb. 15 and Feb. 17 from 210
respondents in specific places like universities, offices, and
malls.
The study by the University of Indonesia also revealed some
interesting facts.
Sarlito said that the majority of those who don't switch off
their mobile phones in movie theaters are in fact housewives (52
percent), and those above the age of 46 (55.6 percent).
Those who are never seen without their mobile phones consist
of mainly blue-collar workers (73 percent) and students (70
percent), while those who tend to forget where they put them are
housewives at 65.5 percent, he said. (tnt)