It is a technical area that the Center For Disease Control deems study worthy: Cell phones in the home. The May, 2009 release of the "Wireless Substitution" survey reveals that about twenty percent of American homes use cellular service only.
We see them in the hands of just about everyone we meet so its a safe assumption to say that cell phones are a popular and rapidly increasing means of communication. Whether its a basic phone or a smart phone, customers continue to buy these handy devices. But what about home phone service?
A recent early release survey by the CDC that identifies wireless substitution for land line service shows that one in every five homes in the United States have dumped traditional service for their cellular plan.
According to the release, the CDC has been collecting data since 2003 and now asks survey respondents "if at least one phone inside your home that is currently working and is not a cell phone" amongst other questions. Data provided by over 12,500 households made up nearly 24,000 adults and just over 8,600 children revealed that one in five households have no land line as a result of substituting the old way for cellular service. Loosely translated, that is around 41 Million adults and just under 15 Million children who live in a home with cell-only service.
The most recent data also shows a rising trend in the number of cell-only households, with 2005 data showing around 1 in 13 with cell only service.
Other trends in the survey show:
More than three in five adults living only with unrelated adult roommates were in households with only wireless telephones.
Adults renting their home were more likely than adults owning their home to be living in households with only wireless telephones.
Adults living in the South and Midwest were more likely than adults living in the Northeast or West to be living in households with only wireless telephones.
Men were more likely than women to live in wireless only households.
Poor individuals were more likely to live in wireless only households.
With regards to those who have both a wireless household and a land line, nearly a quarter of all calls were received on their cell phone.
The release also uncovered some interesting trends concerning wireless only households. For example, those with wireless only have a significantly higher instance of binge drinking, reported to have excellent health, had a higher rate of "no health insurance" and were more likely to be tested for HIV.
Is it a trend indicative of cell phone service increasing or one where people in situations certain economic situations are forced to streamline their spending?
