Survey finds a mobile phone generation in New Zealand

New research shows that landlines are just so 2011, as the younger generation rely on their mobile phones and ignore the traditional landline phone.

This is the conclusion based on results from a survey of consumers who purchased a mobile phone handset and/or mobile phone plan from a New Zealand mobile phone retailer within the last twelve months, within the survey group - in this case, 1358 people.

The independent Canstar Blue survey found twice as many Gen Y respondents as the average Kiwi do not have a landline phone, paving the way for its eventual decline.

Gen Ys were also revealed to use their work time in a completely different way from baby boomers, being four times more likely to spend their employer’s time to check social media updates on their mobile phones than older colleagues.

Derek Bonnar, Canstar New Zealand National Manager, says that the majority of consumers are in general doing a lot more with their phones - but not thinking of the security aspect.

“Only 32% use a password to protect their personal details, which is worrying when our research shows an increasing reliance on phones to store information and pay for goods. In fact, this mobile commerce trend is laying the foundation for an escalating battle for control of people’s wallets between mobile phone companies and the banks.

“Forget a paperless society, we’re now moving towards a plasticless society with 30% of Gen X and 28% of Gen Y respondents using their phones as a method of payment.”

Surprisingly, mobile phone customers are showing preference for pay-as-you-go over traditional fixed term contracts. Two thirds of the younger generation are opting to pre-pay.

“In the US market, consumers are shifting to prepay, no-commitment deals, because of economic hardship,” says Bonnar, “it’s possible that this is also happening in New Zealand.”

When it comes to customer satisfaction, challenger brand 2Degrees has the most satisfied customers, receiving five stars for overall satisfaction ahead of mobile giants Telecom and Vodafone, each with four stars.

“2Degrees has reinvigorated the mobile phone market and delivered value to customers with initiatives such as rolling over unused minutes. That’s something that customers appear to appreciate.”