What teens want this season? Mobile phones

In a survey conducted for Cingular Wireless, wireless phones edged out computers, software and accessories as the top electronic gadget on the holiday wish list among teens aged 13 to 17. Only two years ago, wireless phones were number three – behind video game systems and DVD players.

“There’s no surprise that teens have embraced wireless technology,” said David Garver, Executive Director of Marketing at Cingular Wireless. “Not only do wireless phones provide the best way to stay in touch, many models of phones also serve as cameras, MP3 players and messaging devices.”

Among the top gadgets desired by teens in 2003 (in order):

Wireless phone and service plan

PC, software and accessories

Stereo, CD player and accessories

DVD player

Video game system or accessories

Digital camera

Among teens who ranked wireless products in the top five most-desired gifts, nearly half (46 percent) said they wanted a wireless phone to “keep in touch with friends and family.” That’s a significant increase over 2001, when only 33 percent said they wanted wireless to keep in touch.

Safety concerns have become more important for wanting wireless. Teens often expressed that they wanted a wireless device “just in case/for emergencies” (23 percent), or for “safety reasons” (7 percent), both mentioned significantly more often than in 2001 (13 percent and 3 percent respectively).

However, teens say they’re less concerned with the “coolness” factor of wireless phones. “It’s cool/Can show off” dropped to 7 percent as a reason to want a wireless device as a gift, down from 13 percent in 2001. Wireless data is hot

Although voice is still king among teen users, wireless internet service is the most desired feature among teens – a finding that mirrored the 2001 survey. This year’s survey also finds that specialty ringtones and SMS messaging are more desirable than in 2001.