ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- While cell phones are widely used across most segments of the U.S. adult population this is especially true for those under 30. Remarkably, over half of U.S. adults who only use a cell phone are under 30. And, furthermore, one-third of 18 to 29 year olds only use a cell phone or the Internet for making phone calls.

These are some of the results of a special analysis of three Harris Poll(R) surveys conducted online between October and December 2006 by Harris Interactive(R). In total 6,748 adults were surveyed.

Specifically, The Harris Poll(R) found that: -- Over eight in ten (81%) U.S. adults say that they have a landline phone and over three-quarters (77%) say that that they have a wireless or cell phone; -- About one is six (16%) of U.S. adults use the Internet, sometimes referred to as VoIP of Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol, to make telephone calls; and -- About 98 percent of all adults have some telephone service with the remaining two percent saying that they do not have phone service at all.

About six in ten (63%) U.S. adults are using multiple approaches to making telephone calls. Interestingly,

-- Just under one in five (18%) of U.S. adults only use a landline phone; -- Eleven percent (11%) are only using their cell phone and two percent (2%) are only using the Internet (VoIP); and -- Five percent (5%) are only using either a cell phone or VoIP. Demographic Profile of Cell Phone Only users

When we study the profile of cell phone only users, an interesting profile emerges. They are much younger than the general adult population. Over half of people (55%) who say they only use a cell phone are ages 18 to 29 as compared to 22 percent of U.S. adults who are 18 to 29. Furthermore, this translates into a third (32%) of 18 to 29 year olds who say they only use a cell phone (26%), only VoIP (3%) or VoIP and a cell phone (4%).

In addition, as compared to the general adult population, cell phone only users tend to be:

-- Slightly more male (55%) than the general adult population (48%); -- Better educated (33% vs. 26%); -- Slightly more likely to earn less than $25,000 (30% vs 20%) and more likely to earn between $25,000 and $49,999 (30% vs. 25%); -- Less likely to be affluent, that is earning $75,000 or more (23% vs. 35%); -- Less Republican (23% vs 30%), more Independent (29% vs. 25%) though, interestingly, not more Democrat (36% vs. 37%).; and -- More Liberal (27% vs. 19%) and less Conservative (23% vs 28%). Comparing The Harris Poll to National Health Interview Survey

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control released the preliminary results from its July to December 2006 National Health Interview Survey(1). This large, respected survey is conducted in-person continuously throughout the year to collect information on health status, health-related behaviors and health-care utilization. In addition, this survey also includes information about household telephones and wireless or cell phone usage.

Even though The Harris Poll was conducted using a different method (online) than the NHIS (in person), the results compare favorably on some measures. For example, the NHIS finds that 12 percent of U.S. adults use only a cell phone. The Harris Poll finds the figure to be a similar 11 percent. Conversely, the NHIS and The Harris Poll diverge in a few instances. For example, The Harris Poll finds that 9 percent of those who have some high school or less are cell phone only, while the CDC finds that 13 percent of this group is cell phone only.

So what?

There are two implications to this research. First, new technologies are often first adopted by younger segments. However, the rapid adoption rates we are seeing here will likely reshape the entire communications landscape within the next decade. Second, the fact that so many 18 to 29 years are only using cell phones and the Internet has important implications for companies and other organizations that are trying to communicate with this important segment of the population. This also hold true with those who conduct survey research who have relied on traditional methods (i.e., telephone landlines) for reaching this group. The survey research and marketing industries need to recognize that the Internet and cell phones, not landlines, are likely to be the wave of the future for contacting this age group.

(1) Please see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm for more information. TABLE 1 TYPES OF TELEPHONE SERVICE USED AT HOME

"Which of the following types of telephone service do you have in your home? Please select all that apply."

Base: All Adults Total % Regular telephone service that involves a fixed line telephone that plugs into a phone jack in the wall (LANDLINE) 81 Internet telephone service that involves my household Internet connection (VoIP) 16 Wireless or cell phone service (pre-paid or installment) that involves the use of a portable phone (CELL PHONE) 77 Other 2 None 2 Note: Percentages add up to more than 100% due to multiple responses being selected. TABLE 2 WHICH TELEPHONE SERVICES ONLY USED?

"Which of the following types of telephone service do you have in your home? Please select all that apply."

Base: All Adults Total % Using multiple types of telephone service (Landline, Cell Phone or VoIP) 63 Regular telephone service that involves a fixed line telephone that plugs into a phone jack in the wall (Landline ONLY) 18 Internet telephone service that involves my household Internet connection (VoIP ONLY) 2 Wireless or cell phone service (pre-paid or installment) that involves the use of a portable phone (Cell Phone ONLY) 11 VoIP and Cell phone only/No landline 5 None 2 TABLE 3 TYPES OF TELEPHONE SERVICE - DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

"Which of the following types of telephone service do you have in your home? Please select all that apply."

Base: All Adults VoIP and Cell General Adult Cell Phone VoIP only phone/No Population 18+ Only (11%) (2%) Landline (5%) % % % % Sex Male 48 55 50 53 Female 52 45 50 47 Education Some high school or less 15 4 10 2 High school grad or GED 32 33 38 39 Some post high school, no degree 28 31 23 25 4 year college degree or higher 26 33 29 34 Age 18-24 13 28 18 6 25-29 9 27 13 11 30-44 28 25 28 36 45-64 34 18 31 37 65 and over 16 2 10 10 Race/Ethnicity Hispanic 13 13 13 12 Black (Not Hispanic) 11 9 13 13 White (Not Hispanic) 70 72 71 70 Asian (Not Hispanic) 4 2 2 1 Region Northeast 22 17 28 25 Midwest 22 25 22 13 South 33 35 28 42 West 23 23 23 20 Household Income $14,999 or less 10 17 18 8 $15,000 to $24,999 10 13 10 8 $25,000 to $34,999 10 13 8 7 $35,000 to $49,999 15 17 10 15 $50,000 to $74,999 20 18 17 27 $75,000 to $99,999 13 8 14 12 $100,000 or more 22 15 24 23 Political Party Identification Republican 30 23 21 28 Democrat 37 36 38 39 Independent 25 29 24 26 Other 8 12 17 7 Political Philosophy Conservative 28 23 31 26 Moderate 52 50 48 54 Liberal 19 27 22 19 Satisfaction with Life Very satisfied 41 39 27 45 Somewhat satisfied 43 44 45 41 Somewhat dissatisfied 12 12 22 11 Very dissatisfied 5 5 7 3 Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding. TABLE 4 CELL PHONE ONLY -- UNDER 30 USING

"Which of the following types of telephone service do you have in your home? Please select all that apply."

Base: All Adults VoIP and Cell Cell Phone Only VoIP only phone/No Landline % % % Total 11 2 5 Age 18-24 23 3 2 25-29 31 2 5 30-44 10 2 6 45-64 6 2 5 65 and over 1 1 3 TABLE 5 CELL PHONE ONLY USAGE -- COMPARING METHODS HARRIS INTERACTIVE TO NHIS

"Which of the following types of telephone service do you have in your home? Please select all that apply."

Base: All Adults CDC - HPOL National Health Cell Phone Only Interview Survey (Oct - Dec 2006) (Jul - Dec 2006) % % Total 11 12 Sex Male 12 13 Female 9 10.5 Education Some high school or less 9 13 High school grad or GED 8 11 Some post high school, no degree 12 14 4-year college degree or higher 14 10 Age 18-24 23 25 25-29 31 29 30-44 10 12 45-64 6 6 65 and over 1 2 Race/Ethnicity Hispanic 12 15 Black (Not Hispanic) 9 13 White (Not Hispanic) 11 11 Asian (Not Hispanic) 16 12 Region Northeast 8 9 South 11 14 Midwest 12 11 West 11 11 Employment Employed (full- or part-time) 14 14 Homemaker 7 9 Student 23 20 Methodology

This special analysis of three Harris Poll(R) surveys conducted online within the United States between October and December 2006 among a total of 6,748 adults (aged 18 and over). Specifically the surveys were conducted October 4 to 10, 2006 (among 2,010 adults), November 13 to 20, 2006 (among 2,429 adults) and December 12 to 19, 2006 (among 2,309 adults).

Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

J28941, J28940, J28939 Q830 About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiaries Novatris in France and MediaTransfer AG in Germany, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://www.harrispollonline.com/.

The Harris Poll #51, June 7, 2007

By David Krane, Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy, Harris Interactive

Press Contact: Tracey McNerney Harris Interactive 585-214-7756 Harris Interactive Inc. 06/07

CONTACT: Tracey McNerney of Harris Interactive, +1-585-214-7756

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/
http://www.harrispollonline.com/
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm