Theories, data, and potential impacts of mobile communications

Abstract This article examines the extent to which ownership of mobile communications is related to demographic variables and/or functionality needs. The study draws on data from seven national mail or telephone random surveys carried out during the period 1993–1995 and totaling more than 10000 respondents. We found that the key determinants of mobile communications ownership were household income, race/ethnic background, need to be in touch, and social/work mobility. Further, we found that the pager-only group, the cell phone-only group, and the cell phone plus pager group had quite different ownership characteristics. While no longer a “rich man's toy,” ownership of the cellular telephone is, nevertheless, still associated with the more affluent, although we found evidence that this income effect was declining. Two important variables, gender and feelings of overload, did not appear to have any explanatory power. We speculate that ownership of mobile communications is determined more strongly by social location effects—for example, need to be in touch or being highly mobile—than by gender. Regarding feelings of overload, we found no evidence that ownership of mobile communications generates feelings of overload, controlling for other variables.

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